The Forgery; or, Best Intentions.James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
General
The Forgery; or, Best Intentions.
James, G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford)
Fiction
The last sentence was uttered as the old woman-servant came in with
the tea, which, from her master's well-known habits, she judged was
the object of his ringing the bell. She had brought but one cup,
however; for, never having seen a human creature entertained in that
room, she did not seem to grasp the possibility of two strangers being
invited to share Farmer Graves's meal. His orders were given, however,
to bring more cups and saucers, and more bread and butter, and prepare
two rooms for the accommodation of his unexpected guests.
As soon as she was gone, Henry inquired, in the same quiet and low
tone which he had studiously used, if Mr. Graves was acquainted with
the name of the church at which his daughter had been married.
The old man shook his head.
"No, no," he replied; "no, I did not remark the name; but they were
living then--at least, she had been living--at a small village in
Hertfordshire, a little beyond Harrow, not much above ten miles from
London; and I think I understood that they had been there ever since
she left me. Ah, poor thing! poor thing!--she little knew what she was
doing when she quitted her father's house. God help and forgive us
all! But, as you say, we had better not talk more about it to-night; I
feel the well of bitterness pouring forth all its waters again; and
yet, when I look at your face, it seems to carry me back for nearly
thirty years, and I can hardly think my child dead and gone, in the
cold grave--she who was all life and brightness, while I am left here
upon the sunny face of the earth, like a withered leaf in a summer's
day. There--don't let us talk any more of it to-night."
Henry judged that it might be better not to press the conversation any
farther; and indeed he wished in some degree to collect his own
thoughts, and to determine fully upon his course of action, before he
did so. That he was in the house of his mother's father he was well
aware; but he had entertained no idea that his resemblance to his
mother was so great as at once to awaken suspicion of the fact in the
mind of the old man himself. He had consequently prepared in no degree
for such a contingency; and he was well pleased to have time for
consideration in regard to the next step which he should take. To avow
his real name, and at once give Mr. Graves an explanation of all the
circumstances, did not, as the reader may conceive, enter at all into
his plans; but yet he feared that the discovery of so great a likeness
would render the task of getting full information from the old man
more difficult than he had at first imagined. He contented himself,
therefore, during the evening, with studying his companion's
character. It was not very difficult to comprehend, indeed. Frank,
straightforward and decided, but yet kindly and affectionate, the
apparent sternness proceeded more from rapidity of thought and feeling
than from any real harshness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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