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Updated: June 15, 2025
Why did you leave Bristed Hall?" "Uncle Richard brought me," said he, heaving a melancholy sigh. "He came after you had gone, uncle, and told me that Agnes Reef was sick and going to die, and wanted to see me and you, and that if you were home you would let me go, because you loved her; and I thought so too. He gave me this ring which Agnes sent so I would know it was her."
As I entered, the gentleman came forward. "Miss Reef, Mr. Bristed," said my companion, by way of introduction. So this was my employer. As he stood before me, I surveyed him; a well-formed gentleman, above the ordinary height, with pale complexion, set off by dark, penetrative eyes; a shapely head covered with long, heavy masses of straight dark hair.
"I mean," he replied with diabolical blandness, "that this lady is my wife, and will from this time take charge of this establishment." "Richard Bristed, you cannot, dare not make that assertion! I am your wife, though I acknowledge it with shame and sorrow. He has misled you, madam," said I, turning to the lady. "You are mistaken if you suppose I shall abandon my rights."
Do dismiss him!" This conjecture proved true, and I was obliged to give a cold rebuff to the man who had befriended me. It is possible Richard Bristed did not care to be recognized by his brother's agent, but I did not think of this at that time. After this affair happened Richard visited me more openly, and my pupils, when by chance they met him, were charmed with the stranger.
The excitement and disappointment, added to the severe cold to which I was exposed, broke me down, and I was taken suddenly ill. When I recovered, I returned to Bristed Hall only to find my priceless bird flown, and no clue to be had to her whereabouts. "As to the tale about Herbert, that is all a ruse; he is not my son, and only distantly connected with either of us.
And as you have been plotting and scheming for some time against me, I would advise you to leave, also. Bristed Hall," said he sneeringly, "is likely to prove an agreeable shelter to you." "I leave!" said I, now fairly awake to the danger. "What do you mean, sir?"
Shut up in the empty mansion alone with my own thoughts, I was growing morbidly lonesome. It was at this unpropitious moment that Richard Bristed returned. He arranged quiet strolls to the country little excursions here and there with himself as my sole companion and many sweet happy days of unsullied pleasure I passed in his society.
I heard Richard descend the stairs and go out into the street. Not long; after this the door-bell rang violently and the servant knocked at my door to say that a gentleman in the drawing-room wished to see me. Smoothing my hair and arranging my toilet, I obeyed the summons, but started back on discovering the stranger to be no other than Mr. Bristed.
My emotions, as I packed my little trunk on that memorable Saturday, were of a mixed character; but pleasure predominated. Hope beckoned me on; and the sadness attendant on breaking loose from the unfriendly home in which I had lived so long was but transitory. Monday morning saw me seated composedly in the rail-coach on the way to "Bristed Hall," my destination.
"Ah, ha!" shouted he, coming toward me. "So you are the one who has been prying into my affairs. It is you I must thank for this interference. Out of this room directly! Get you gone!" I should have obeyed, but a sound from Herbert's bed arrested me a sound that awed me more than the angry voice of Richard! I hurried to the bedside. Mr. Bristed was there before me. I looked at the sinking boy.
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