Clara Vaughan, Volume 1 (of 3)

ed. Again and again I went to examine those letters, jealous at once of my secret, and fearful lest they

from page to page, from volume to volume, the chr

ara," said my guardian one day at breakfast, "you live t

world, exce

my best. But your mother has succeeded in finding a coll

me surprise, "you never told

"nor any nephews either; but your uncle h

t you should do so. To me it is a matter of perfect indifference; but

ked, in high displeasure th

y to be here

ize me through a young gentleman, is it?

se that will depend upo

rs," I cried; "but it

t, and the subject dropped. But of course I saw that he wished me to like his

second marriage. Her new husband was one Stephen Daldy, a merchant of some wealth. By him she left one son, named Lawrence, and several daughters. This Lawrence Daldy, my guardian's half-brother, p

or thereabout, and, in pursuance of my gua

him from a doll, it was perhaps vanity; and if his vanity was singular enough to have any foundation, it could be only in his good looks. He wa

ekness. Whatever she said or did, in her large contempt of the world, her lady-abbess walk, and the chastened droop of her brilliant eyes, she conveyed through it all the impression of her humble s

when upon this was assumed an air of deep pity for my ignoranc

at kindness towards her which people of true religion, when over-charitable, conceive towards a

blandness our visitor dared to "discharge her sacred duty of impressing on me the guilt of harbouring thoughts of revenge."

the service, and she had

wisdom, to afflict your dear mother with a melancholy so sensitive, that she cannot bear any allusion to your deeply-lamented father. You have therefore no female guidance upon a subject whi

op;" and I felt my passion

h must (humanly speaking) draw down a judgment upon you. Now, open your heart to me, the whole of your little unregenerate heart, you mysterious but (I firmly believe

ly not,"

. Make me your mother-confessor. I take the deepest interest in you. True, I am only a weak and sinful woman, but my

as if you had

a newly-fathomed sea. My guardian's face gleamed with a smile of sly am

on that account I am, under Providence, better qualified to advise you, in your dark and perilous state. I have seen much of what thoughtless people call 'life.' But in helping you, I wish to proceed on higher

f my father'

leading star, I feel too painfully my own shortcomings, and old unregenerat

an impenetrable smile, "how should I? You h

ra Vaughan, that, after years of brooding and lonely anguish, yo

ther a

you wrong his sweet and

uched me; and that because I had often though

forgive that being who tore him from me and my mother. I know that he watches me

make it the more my duty. Come with me now, and let m

y, I want no teaching

eadstrong for her. Come t

go to a butche

re you so lost to

ight," I replied;

in my search, and wished to partake in my readings and secret musings. Indeed, I could seldom escape her. I am ready to own that, by her suggestions and quick apprehension, she gained some ascendancy over me, but not

, to that tailor's block. The one had been so long accustomed to the lordship of the property, to some county influence, and great command of money, that it was not likely he would forego the whole without a struggle. But he knew quite well that the moment I should be of age I would dispense with his wardship, and even with his residence there, and devote all I had to the pursuit of my "monomania." All his endeavours to make me his t

urled spaniel, which he loved as much as he could love anything, was gambolling round us. As the boy lounged along, half asleep, on the rustic chair, with his silky face shade

ced to look up--"Couthin Clara, I

I was always good-natured to him. "Dolly knows I wo

to thleep; you are

denly drawn to the lake. There was a plashing, and barking, and hissing, and napping of snow-white wings--poor Juan engaged in unequal combat with two fierce swans who had a nest on the island. The poor littl

if you like. They'll kill me, and I can

little dog on board, gasping, half-drowned, and woefully beaten. Meanwhile my lord elect had leaped on the seat for safety, and was wringin

safe, he would not touch him, because h