"Well, Sir, my own affairs will require my presence in the metropolis
for a month. In the mean time, although I should have preferred to have
gone down with you to Faristone Hall, and have at once put you in
possession, yet affairs may remain as they are (for everything is under
seal, and Lady Musgrave has been compelled to remove) till it suits your
convenience. I shall, however, write to let them know that you have
been found and will soon come down and take possession."
Mr Campbell then asked me a few questions, to which I replied
satisfactorily, and then for the first time he saluted me with my title,
saying, "Sir Alexander, I will now take my leave."
The next morning I set off on my journey, and travelled with as much
speed as the horses would permit. I arrived on the fifth day at Mr
Trevannion's seat, about nine miles from Liverpool. As I rode up the
avenue of chestnut trees, I perceived a female form looking out from an
upper window, which soon afterwards made a precipitate retreat. I
alighted, and was received at the door in the embrace of Mr Trevannion,
who welcomed me with tears, and taking me by the hand he led me into an
apartment where I found my adored Amy, who threw herself into my arms
and wept as if her heart would break; but her sobs were the sobs of joy,
and when she did raise her head and look at me, it was with eyes beaming
with pleasure, and with smiles upon her beautiful lips. I clasped her
to my bosom, and felt that I was more than repaid for all I had
suffered, and my heart was throbbing with gratitude and love.
It was some time before we could sufficiently compose ourselves to enter
into lengthened conversation, and then Amy inquired what had occurred to
me to occasion such lengthened absence. We sat down on a sofa, and with
Amy on one side of me and her father on the other I entered into my
narrative.
"And so you have been married since we last heard from you?" said Amy,
smiling, when I had finished my history.
"Yes," replied I, "I have been; but I hope I shall treat my second wife
a little better than I did my first."
"I hope so too," replied Amy; "but I have great fear that your Virginian
mistress may come over and claim you."
"I do not think that likely. From the Indians having followed me to the
beach, they must have fallen in with her."
"And what do you think became of her?"
"Of course I cannot exactly say; but I presume she died gallantly, and
fought with her axe to the last."
That evening I had a long conversation with Mr Trevannion. He told me
what he had done with the money, which he considered as mine, and I put
into his care the sum I had received for the diamond. I then spoke to
him about our marriage, and requested that it might not be postponed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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