Wylder's Hand

Slumber is

elford and I, tête-à-tête, had a glass of sherry and water together in the drawing-room before parting. And over this temperate beverage I told him frankly the nature o

nspirator, and was to offer such advice as might seem expedient, with the clear approbation of Miss Brandon’s trustee. And this point clearly settled, I avowed myself a little tired; and lighting our candles at the foot of

beginning to grow very drowsy, was not long in getti

o find refuge, if not among the chambers, the intricacies, which have seen the vicis

coat, and lace cravat and ruffles. This picture was pale, and had a long chin, and somehow had impressed my boyhood with a singular sense of fear. The fo

f fury; and at the instant I felt myself seized by the throat and unable to stir or to breathe. After a struggle with this infernal garotter, I succeeded in awaking myself; and as I did so, I felt a rather cold hand really resting on my throat, and quietly passe

in the direction of the stairs the green eyes of a large cat were shining. I was so confoundedly nervous

are, and reasoned myself into the natural solution that the creature had got on my bed,

a great house like that, and that my visitor might have made one, I grew drowsy in a little while, and s

hat he would have called the nonsense of last night, and was very keen upon se

with Mark Wylder and Mr. Larkin, the lawyer, in the study — dull work — over

ke our business, to me at least, any pleasanter. Wylder thought him a clever man (and so perhaps, in a certain sense, he was); Lord Chelford, a most honourable one; yet there came to me by instinct an unpleasant f

pretty often. His eyes were small and reddish, as if accustomed to cry; and when everything went smoothly were dull and dove-like, but when things crossed or excited him, which occurred when his own pocket or plans were concerned, they grew singularly

y and drawling way of talking, and distributing his length of limb in what he fancied were easy attitudes.

ormed to Methodism, but returned to the Church. He had a liking for long sermons, and a sad abhorrence of amusements, and sat out the morning and the evening services regularly — and kept up his dissenting connection too,

istinct way, formidable. It was not a pleasant misgiving about a gentleman

oved. Wylder’s attorney had done his devoir, and Mr. Larkin avowed a sort of parental interest in both parties to the indentures, and made, at closing, a little speech, very high in morality, and flavoured in a m