What was the villain’s triumph, when, stealing through the shrubberies, I sought the well-remembered window of his apartment! Lights were burning, and there sat Morley. He had numerous papers and accounts before him; bank-notes and gold were spread over the table carelessly; and a bottle of wine was opened, from which, as I peeped in, he liberally helped himself. Heavens! how low had I fallen!--how abject did I feel myself! With me, indeed, the cup of misery was at the overflow. I dreaded to knock! I--the born-heir of all around, fearful to disturb the son of my father’s menial! At last I mustered sufficient resolution to tap gently on the casement. The steward expected a different visitor. He seized his hat, hurried from the room, locked the door carefully, let himself out by a private entrance, of which he kept a key, and in another minute approached the evergreens to which I had retreated, and softly pronounced a woman’s name. “Morley!” I timidly replied. “Ha!--a man’s voice!--Who’s there?” he demanded. “An unfortunate--your old playfellow--he who once was your master’s son!” I answered. “Heavens!” he exclaimed. “Is it possible! And have you _dared_ to venture hither?” “I once thought,” I replied dejectedly, “that none would question my right of entrance to this domain, which by birth and descent is, or should be, mine. I am indeed fallen!” “What do ye want?” he demanded, as I fancied, in a haughty tone. “Why have you disturbed me at this unseasonable hour?” “Dire necessity obliged me to come here. I am perishing; food has not crossed my lips since yesterday. I am without a home,--the humblest shelter would be acceptable.” “I cannot offer you one. Were it known that I spoke to you, or gave you the slightest assistance, your father would discharge me.” “Is his anger, then, so unmitigable?” I asked in a desponding voice. “It is beyond the power of being appeased. Advisedly, he would not breathe the same atmosphere that you did; and the most welcome tidings he could receive, would be those that assured him that you were no more return ed the steward. “I am starving!--pennyless! By Heaven, I will crawl into these evergreens, and die in sight of that mansion which once was destined to be mine.” Morley started at the declaration. “Pshaw!” said he, with an appearance of more feeling than before; “this is mere folly! Let me see--I dare not afford aught but temporary relief; and in doing so I risk the loss of Mr. Clifford’s favour, were the thing discovered. Stay; I will bring you some refreshment, and see whether I cannot do something to save you from actual starvation afterwards he then returned to the house, and in a few minutes reappeared with the remnant of the supper he had eaten, and a portion of the wine I noticed on the table. I ate ravenously--drank to the bottom of the flask--and then listened to the false scoundrel as he thus continued:--