Clara Vaughan, Volume 3 (of 3)

s nothing conclusive, to the heart all was irresistible. I have not set down a quarter of the thoughts that now dawned upon me; and it would be waste of

amed of me, and was not ashamed of my mother! And why did he never come for me? And do you think he wi

ove or mercy cheering the abrupt steps of a fatalist, so long had He vouchsafed to send me check and warning, more than guidance. By loss of wealth and dearest friends, by blindness and desertion, and the crushing blow to maiden's pride when her heart is flung back in her face, by sad hours of watching and weeping over t

who slew my father. And what humiliation to all my boasted destiny! I had grasped the hand that did the deed, smiled to the eyes that glared upon it, laughed at

hymems were quick enough, and a great deal too quick I believe; but as for their reduction or eduction into syllogisms--we might as well expect her to make a telescope out of her boot-tags. And now at once she expected, and would not give me room for a word, that I should minutely detail in two sentences, with marginal annotations, and footnotes, queries, co

hing clearly. Are you quite certai

you are as lawful as I, your cousin Clara. We Vaughans are a passionate race, but we never make wreck

that I had grieved my pet, so I begged her pardon, and reviled myself, till all was right again. Then suddenly she

ou say my own father is very ill. He will die without seeing me. On with

leaped into her cheeks, and her features and form seemed to dance, like a flickering flame,

owns a little chit picked up in London. He is a clever and cautious man, and will expect something more convincing

ook of hers went to my heart; but I knew what the mother had died of, and feare

r, that your father woul

f I thought about it at all. I

ther was Balak. Isola clung to me, and turned pale; she thought it was some one pursuing her. I told her hastily whom I expected, and sent her

tner to fasten the door. This being done with some pantomime, which meant "By your leave, if you please, Miss," the two men, who

lease; what is it y

receiving a ponderous nod, b

do you mean by all this mummery? I shall ring t

the bonds of speech, and he tried to look straight

said, Miss, as we come along, the young lady would be sure to know what was right, and turn up handsome afor

o you want, before I kno

signals took place, and e

as time to judge. But Balak say nothing under twenty, co

I will take it in preference. Here are ten pounds." He looked rather ta

ther ninety ere long, and the residue hereafter: but not another farthing, if

other class, I dare say. Still the

ken my money

don years before, and seemed to know it well. Here a nobleman, whom he had taught some new device at billiards, took him up and introduced him to a higher class of pupils, and obtained him some back-door palace appointment. He dubbed himself "Professor," and started as Dr. Ross. But still he missed the excitement and change of his once adventurous life, and several times he broke loose, and left his household, for weeks and months together. Then the two lovely children, whom all admired but none were allowed to notice, were attended wherever they went, by a dark-browed Italian woman. Suddenly they all left Kensington, and went to live at Ball's Pond; the reason being some threatened exposure of the Professor's cat-skinning propensities. His love of vivisection had become the master-passion, and he would gratify it at all hazards. There is to some natures a strange fascination in the horrible cruelties perpetrated under the name of science. Through i

ce. Oh that I were a man! How can I hear such things and not swear? All animals, except one, hated him by instinct. The only one, not sagacious enough to know him, was his fellow-man. Men, or at any rate women, thought him a handsome, lively, playful, and brilliant being. And yet, upon the honour o

og, had a wen behind his shoulder, which grew and grew until the Professor could scarcely keep his hands from it. But he knew that any operation, in so severe a case, was nearly sure to kill a dog so old and weather-beaten. The owner too knew this, and would not have it meddled with. Lepardo Della Croce swore at last that he would taste no food until he had traced the roots of that wen. Judy, then a pretty pup, gambolled into the room and saw his poor papa--but I will not describe what a dog cannot even bear to think of. Poor Slowski died that night, and the Pole knocked down the surviving brute, who shot him next day upon Hampstead Heath. However,

f I had known all the above. "And so you see, Miss"--was Balaam's peroration--"we have had a downy cove to deal with, for all his furious temper. Lor now, I never believe any Bobby would have discovered him; but we has ways, Miss, what with the carpets and the sofys, and always knowing the best pump

ble you first to write down briefly what you have told me, and to sign it in full. It is not fo

an abstract of it, which I could do from memory, and then let them read and sign it. By this time they were both afflicted with thirst, which I sent them away t

self must have something; som

been round my neck for years, and which I have shown you before: but I fear it is

d not recognise then, and very highly polished. She said it had been her broth

orm them that, however hard they had laboured, I had made the discovery before them; which they said was permiscuous, and no

he died. I hoped he might live for years, but I feared he might die to-morrow; so hangs over every one's mind that fatal third stroke of paralysis. Her own entreaties and coaxing told much upon my resolution; if none could resist her when happy, who could withstand her distress? So Balaam and Balak were ordered most strictly to watch that demon's abode