Unconvicted; or Old Thorneley's Heirs, Chapter I [pp. 404-410]

J;nconvicted; or, Old Tnorneley's Heirs.
"We must have witnesses," I said "Only this evening! and whither
when it was finished. away so soon, old fellow?"
Mr. Thorneley rang the bell. "Tell I muttered something about busiThomas I want him here, and come ness.
back yourself." The two men return- "Business! Come, I like that. You
ed in a few mominents,-coachman and have changed your nature, John, if
footman; and before those two, with you go after business the first evening
unshaken hand, with a face of rigid of your return from Switzerland. Why,
firmness, Gilbert Thorneley wrote his I didn't suppose you would have stirname; the servants affixed their sig- red if my old uncle yonder had sent
natures, and the deed was done. for you to make his will, leaving me
Wlen we were alone I rose to de- his sole heir." And he laughed his
part, and bade him good-night. As I old hearty joyous laugh, which had
left the room I looked back at the old been music to me from the time when
man. HIe had sunk in his chair, and I fought his first battle for him at
his face was buried in his hands, Rugby. Now it filled me with an unbowed and bent beside the fire, with accountable dread; now it fell on my
his thin gray locks straying over his ear as the knell of times which were
forehead, as if some bitter blast had never more to come back. So near
swept over him and left him desolate; the truth too as he had been, talking
-thus I saw him for the last time on in his own thoughtless, light-hearted
earth. way. What spell was over us all that
I left that house with a heavy secret fatal evening? Perhaps-I think it
locked in my breast, with a weight on must have been so-all the dark shaheart and brain, and heeded not the dows which were gathering over my
blinding, drizzling rain as I bent my soul revealed themselves in my counfootsteps rapidly homeward, longing tenance, for I saw him look at me
only to reach my quiet chamber, where with the kind solicitous look that
I might commune with myself and be never became a manly face better
still. I am not an inveterate smoker; than his.
but when I want to think out a knotty "I'll tell you what it is, dear old
point, when I wish to obtain a clear John," he said, putting his arm within
view of any difficult question, I can mine; "you are looking terribly hipquite appreciate the aid which a good ped about something or another, and
cigar affords one. This ni,ght I was any thing but the man you ought to
dazed, bewildered, and mechanically I look, after such a jolly outing as
sought my old friend in my breast- you've just had. Come, I'll go home
pocket. I stopped beside the window with you, and we'll have a prime
of a large chemist's shop at the corner Manilla, a steaming tumbler, and a
of Vere street and Oxford street to cosy chat together; and if that doesn't
strike a light, when some one hastily send the blues back to the venerable
passed out of the shop and ran full old party from which they are generagainst me. elly supposed by all good Christians
"Kavanagh!" "Atherton 1" The to come, why, as Mr. Peggotty hath
man of all men in the world to meet it,' I'm gormed I" And again that
that night! What fatality was it that fatal influence stepped in, making me
was hedging me in and fencing me its agent to bring upon us the ineviround, without any agency of my table To be; and putting his friendly
own? hand from off my arm, I said, "1 No,
"Who would have thought of seeing Hugh, not to-nlght; I have need to be
you here?" he exclaimned as he grasp- alone. Indeed I am too tired to be
ed my hand. "I had no idea you had good company even to you."
returned even." "Well, good-night then, my friend;
"I came back this very evening." I'll betake me to mine uncle, and see
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