He bowed his head lower and lower; the hardness and
hypocrisies of pride, the sense of danger and of horror,
that, in agitating, still supported, the mind of this
resolute and scheming man, at once forsook him.
Madeline felt his tears drop fast and burning on her
hand, and the next moment, overcome by the relief
it afforded to a heart preyed upon by fiery and dread
secrets, which it could not reveal, and a frame exhausted
by the long and extreme tension of all its powers,
he laid his head upon that faithful bosom, and wept
aloud.
Aram’s secret
expedition.—A scene worthy
the actors.—Aram’s
address and powers of persuasion or hypocrisy.—Their
Result.
—A fearful night.—Aram’s
solitary ride homeward.
—Whom he meets by the way,
and what he Sees.
Macbeth. Now
o’er the one half world
Nature seems dead.
Donalbain.
Our separated fortune
Shall keep us both the
safer.
Old Man. Hours
dreadful and things strange.
—Macbeth.
“And you must really go to _____ to pay your importunate creditor this
very evening. Sunday is a bad day for such matters; but as you pay him by
an order, it does not much signify; and I can well understand your
impatience to feel discharged of the debt. But it is already late; and if
it must be so, you had better start.”
“True,” said Aram to the above remark
of Lester’s, as the two stood together without
the door; “but do you feel quite secure and guarded
against any renewed attack?”
“Why, unless they bring a regiment, yes!
I have put a body of our patrole on a service where
they can scarce be inefficient, viz. I have
stationed them in the house, instead of without; and
I shall myself bear them company through the greater
part of the night: to-morrow I shall remove all
that I possess of value to—(the county town)
including those unlucky guineas, which you will not
ease me of.”
“The order you have kindly given me will amply
satisfy my purpose,” answered Aram: “And
so, there has been no clue to these robberies discovered
throughout the day?”
“None: to-morrow, the magistrates are to
meet at—, and concert measures: it
is absolutely impossible, but that we should detect
the villains in a few days, viz. if they remain
in these parts. I hope to heaven you will not
meet them this evening.”
“I shall go well armed,” answered Aram,
“and the horse you lend me is fleet and strong.
And now farewell for the present; I shall probably
not return to Grassdale this night, or if I do, it
will be at so late an hour, that I shall seek my own
domicile without disturbing you.”
“No, no; you had better remain in the town,
and not return till morning,” said the Squire;
“and now let us come to the stables.”
