Eveline Mandeville

two worthies, related, in the first chapter, to no one but her father, it becomes a matter of curios

take with the Mandevilles, he was proportionally more interested in the opinions they might entertain respecting his life and character, than in those of any others. He accordingly resorted to the mean and cowardly expedient of eavesdropping, in order to gain

ual chagrin that the daughter had no good-will toward him; a fact, however, that he had more than suspected before; but, having taken a fancy to her, and the prospect o

connection with some secret body of villains, and perceived the marked effect it had upon the latter, he became alarmed for the success of his schemes, and seeing the co

finally hit upon an expedient that suited his purpose exactly, and at once resolved to act upon it. For this purpose he sought and

come your son-in-law, though he has the audacity-if I may be allowed so strong an expression-to aspire after your daughter's hand! Having nothing of his own to recommend him, and knowing that I am in his way, he does not cease to traduce me to your daughter on every occasion, and I fear the insidious poison of his oily tongue has already had a serious effect on her mind, which, if not

er by chance or design-and with the facts in the case I leave you to determine which-these confederates placed themselves near a bower to which your daughter had resorted but a few minutes previously, so that

how could he help it when so strongly corroborated by what his daughter had previously

n that thus dared to plot agai

reasons. In the first place, I know you cannot but feel highly indignant, and will desire

er added to yours be sufficient to c

t was I, and no other, that was in conversation with the stranger; for I am told that the d

the dif

g compelled to speak of her in this connection; it is, I assure you, sorely afflicting to me; but I shall strive to do my duty, even with the fear of offending before my eyes. As already shown, your daughter's evidence, either publicly or privately given, must lay upon me the weight of crime; in addition to this, I must now undertake the formidable task of informing you that my enemy, who I have already told you has an eye to your daughter's hand, is regarded by her with favor. Do no

n the meshes of the net woven to entrap me, ere I had become aware of any designs being formed against me, or that I had enemies who were endeavoring to compass my ruin; and, worse than all, when these overwhelming truths are made manifest to me, and my very soul burns to extricate myself from the difficulties that surround me, and fasten the crime where it belongs,

as much company and many admirers; but of all

o?"-and with these words, Duffel paced up

me with his name?" sug

nything, only that I fear you

nce I will keep co

nder any circumstances, reveal the name of your

is rest

lained why as far a

Eve

rant of my connection with her friend's exposure,"-and as he sa

t unders

the way of the accomplishment of his wishes, he has prejudiced her against me, and done so in such a manner as to induce the belief in her mind that I am his bitterest enemy, and would use any means to do him an injury or blacken his ch

an I have. I will never mention your name in connection with this m

nt shall dictate, I have nothing more left me to do in this trying int

exclaimed the fath

ne other

ly have belie

ravity is truly inconceiv

eline; but I had no idea the beggarly dog would dare t

be cautious

ar on tha

Another idea suggested itself: "Was his daughter an intentional or an unintentional party to these transactions? Might not her dislike of Duffel and her preference for Hadley induce her to seek for some means to accomplish the disgrace of the former?" While he was weighing this supposition in the balance of his mind, he chanced to see his daughter walking with Hadley, and their manner of conversation and the evident good-will existing between them, led him, in