Morley Ernstein; or, the Tenants of the HeartJames, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
General
Morley Ernstein; or, the Tenants of the Heart
James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
Fiction
Morley said nothing, but he was not a little obliged to Lady Malcolm
for saving him the pain of an explanation; and, shortly after, he took
his leave, promising to return the following day, and let Helen know
what was the result of his second conference with her brother.
As soon as he was gone, Helen rose to retire to her room. A slight
degree of paleness had come over her face, a look of exhaustion, which
Juliet remarked, and very well understood. She came round, then, to
where Helen stood, and putting her arm gently round her, she kissed
her cheek, saying, in a low voice--"I think, Helen, you are more of an
angel than any of us."
Helen pressed her hand gently in hers; and though not a word more was
spoken on either part, each felt that she understood the other; and
Helen Barham, with swimming eyes, retired to her chamber, and wept
with very mingled feelings.
CHAPTER XX.
The interview between Morley Ernstein and William Barham was to take
place at the hotel in Berkeley-square; and Morley had written to
Lieberg, giving him notice that the young man would be there, and
begging him, if possible, to meet him, as the draft was to be
presented on the ensuing day, so that no time ought to be lost.
Lieberg breakfasted an hour earlier than usual, but it was not with
the object of being in time for the proposed meeting, as mid-day was
the hour appointed; and as soon as he had done breakfast, he got into
his cabriolet to drive to the house of Helen Barham.
When he reached the house, he got out and knocked himself, and his
keen and marking eye at once perceived that it was not Helen's
neat-looking maid who opened the door, but, on the contrary, a person
bearing the look, which is very peculiar, of people that are put in to
keep houses, which would otherwise be vacant.
In reply to his demand for Miss Barham, the woman said, in a short,
quick tone--"She's not here, sir--she's gone."
"Pray, where is she gone to?" demanded Lieberg, in a quiet tone, as if
the tidings did not surprise him in the least.
"I can't tell, sir," answered the woman. "Two ladies called for her,
and took her away with them, but I don't know where, nor who they
were."
"Ladies!" said Lieberg, with some emphasis; but the other replied
immediately, with a toss of her head--"Yes, ladies, every inch of
them; that I'll answer for; and so is she, too, poor thing, though she
is not so rich as some; but as for their being ladies, the servant
called his mistress 'My Lady' twice--that's all I know."
"And pray, who put you in here, to take care of the house?" said
Lieberg.
"Why, the landlord, to be sure," replied the woman; "and he bade me,
too, take great care of all Miss Barham's things, and to dust all
that's in the drawing-room every day."
"So, then," said Lieberg, "Miss Barham has left some things behind
her?"
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