In pursuance of my promise to Mr Masterton, I called
upon Harcourt the next morning, and after stating
my intention to go down for a day or two into the
country to see a little girl who was under my care,
I said to him, “Harcourt, as long as we were
only town acquaintances, mixing in society, and under
no peculiar obligation to each other, I did not think
it worth while to undeceive you on a point in which
Major Carbonnell was deceived himself, and has deceived
others; but now that you have offered to introduce
me into the bosom of your family, I cannot allow you
to remain in error. It is generally supposed
that I am about to enter into a large property when
I come of age; now, so far from that being the case,
I have nothing in the world but a bare competence,
and the friendship of Lord Windermear. In fact,
I am a deserted child, ignorant of my parents, and
most anxious to discover them, as I have every reason
to suppose that I am of no mean birth. I tell
you this candidly, and unless you renew the invitation,
shall consider that it has not been given.”
Harcourt remained a short time without answering.
“You really have astonished me, Newland; but,”
continued he, extending his hand, “I admire—I
respect you, and I feel that I shall like you better.
With ten thousand pounds a-year, you were above me—now
we are but equals. I, as a younger brother, have
but a bare competence, as well as you; and as for
parents—for the benefit I now derive from
them, I might as well have none. Not but my father
is a worthy, fine old gentleman, but the estates are
entailed; he is obliged to keep up his position in
society, and he has a large family to provide for,
and he can do no more. You have indeed an uncommon
moral courage to have made this confession. Do
you wish it to be kept a secret?”
“On the contrary, I wish the truth to be known.”
“I am glad that you say so, as I have mentioned
you as a young man of large fortune to my father,
but I feel convinced, when I tell him this conversation,
he will be much more pleased in taking you by the hand,
than if you were to come down and propose to one of
my sisters. I repeat the invitation with double
the pleasure that I gave it at first.”
“I thank you, Harcourt,” replied I; “some
day I will tell you more. I must not expect,
however, that everybody will prove themselves as noble
in ideas as yourself.”
“Perhaps not, but never mind that. On Friday
next then, we start.”
“Agreed.” I shook hands and left
him.
Chapter XXXVII
I try back to recover
the lost scent, and discover to my
astonishment, that I
have been transported for forgery.
