The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, August, 1851Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 1, August, 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
"And, oh, boy!" said she, half sobbing, "when I got through the lodge
gates, came on the lawn, and saw all that power o' fine folk--I said
to myself, says I--(for I felt fritted)--I'll just have a look at him
and go back. But ah, Lenny, when I saw thee, looking so handsome--and
when thee turned and cried 'Mother!' my heart was just ready to leap
out o' my mouth--and so I could not help hugging thee, if I had died
for it. And thou wert so kind, that I forgot all Mr. Sprott had said
about Dick's pride, or thought he had just told a fib about that, as
he had wanted me to believe a fib about thee. Then Dick came up--and I
had not seen him for so many years--and we come o' the same father and
mother; and so--and so"--the widow's sobs here fairly choked her.
"Ah," she said, after giving vent to her passion, and throwing her
arms round Leonard's neck, as they sat in the little sanded parlor of
the public-house--"Ah, and I've brought thee to this. Go back, go
back, boy, and never mind me."
With some difficulty Leonard pacified poor Mrs. Fairfield, and got her
to retire to bed; for she was indeed thoroughly exhausted. He then
stepped forth into the road, musingly. All the stars were out; and
Youth, in its troubles, instinctively looks up to the stars. Folding
his arms, Leonard gazed on the heavens, and his lips murmured.
From this trance, for so it might be called, he was awakened by a
voice in a decidedly London accent; and, turning hastily round, saw
Mr. Avenel's very gentlemanlike butler. Leonard's first idea was that
his uncle had repented, and sent in search of him. But the butler
seemed as much surprised at the rencontre as himself; that personage,
indeed, the fatigues of the day being over, was accompanying one of
Mr. Gunter's waiters to the public-house, (at which the latter had
secured his lodging,) having discovered an old friend in the waiter,
and proposing to regale himself with a cheerful glass, and--_that_ of
course--abuse of his present sitivation.
"Mr. Fairfield!" exclaimed the butler, while the waiter walked
discreetly on.
Leonard looked, and said nothing. The butler began to think that some
apology was due for leaving his plate and his pantry, and that he
might as well secure Leonard's propitiatory influence with his
master--
"Please, sir," said he, touching his hat, "I was just a-showing Mr.
Giles the way to the Blue Bells, where he puts up for the night. I
hope my master will not be offended. If you are a-going back, sir,
would you kindly mention it?"
"I am not going back, Jarvis," answered Leonard, after a pause; "I am
leaving Mr. Avenel's house, to accompany my mother; rather suddenly. I
should be very much obliged to you if you would bring some things of
mine to me at the Blue Bells. I will give you the list, if you will
step back with me to the inn."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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