The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
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The Caxtons: A Family Picture — Volume 14
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
English fiction -- 19th century; Families -- Fiction
Thus I found myself in Regent Street, when a carriage, borne by post-
horses, whirled rapidly over the pavement, scattering to the right and
left all humbler equipages, and hurried, as if on an errand of life and
death, up the broad thoroughfare leading into Portland Place. But
rapidly as the wheels dashed by, I had seen distinctly the face of Fanny
Trevanion in the carriage; and that face wore a strange expression,
which seemed to me to speak of anxiety and grief; and by her side--Was
not that the woman I had seen with Peacock? I did not see the face of
the woman, but I thought I recognized the cloak, the bonnet, and
peculiar turn of the head. If I could be mistaken there, I was not
mistaken at least as to the servant on the seat behind. Looking back at
a butcher's boy who had just escaped being run over, and was revenging
himself by all the imprecations the Dirae of London slang could suggest,
the face of Mr. Peacock was exposed in full to my gaze.
My first impulse, on recovering my surprise, was to spring after the
carriage; in the haste of that impulse, I cried "Stop!" But the
carriage was out of sight in a moment, and my word was lost in air.
Full of presentiments of some evil,--I knew not what,--I then altered my
course, and stopped not till I found myself, panting and out of breath,
in St. James's Square--at the door of Trevanion's house--in the hall.
The porter had a newspaper in his hand as he admitted me.
"Where is Lady Ellinor? I must see her instantly."
"No worse news of master, I hope, sir?"
"Worse news of what, of whom? Of Mr. Trevanion?"
"Did you not know he was suddenly taken ill, sir,--that a servant came
express to say so last night? Lady Ellinor went off at ten o'clock to
join him."
"At ten o'clock last night?"
"Yes, sir; the servant's account alarmed her ladyship so much."
"The new servant, who had been recommended by Mr. Gower?"
"Yes, sir,--Henry," answered the porter, staring at me. "Please, sir,
here is an account of master's attack in the paper. I suppose Henry
took it to the office before he came here,--which was very wrong in him;
but I am afraid he's a very foolish fellow."
"Never mind that. Miss Trevanion,--I saw her just now,--she did not go
with her mother: where was she going, then?"
"Why, sir,--but pray step into the parlor."
"No, no; speak!"
"Why, sir, before Lady Ellinor set out she was afraid that there might
be something in the papers to alarm Miss Fanny, and so she sent Henry
down to Lady Castleton's to beg her ladyship to make as light of it as
she could; but it seems that Henry blabbed the worst to Mrs. Mole."
"Who is Mrs. Mole?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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