United States or Portugal ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Wiggins never allows any one to come here but his own friends." "Well," said Dudleigh, "I did have a little difficulty, but not much it was rather of a preliminary character. The fact is, I came here more than a week ago on a kind of tour.
This singular way of taking what was meant to be a most formidable threat took away Miss Plympton's last hope, and reduced her to a state of dejection and bewilderment; for when, she sent that threatening message, it was not because she had really any fixed design of carrying it into execution, but rather because the name of Sir Lionel Dudleigh seemed to her to be one which might overawe the mind of Wiggins.
"But I can swear in a court of law," said Lady Dudleigh, "that this Maltese cross was yours, and that it was given to you by me as a birthday gift." "No one will believe you!" cried Sir Lionel; "no one will believe you!" "Why not? Will they refuse the oath of Lady Dudleigh?"
The words were excellent, but they lacked depth and warmth. Edith, however, was too much excited by the prospect of help to notice this. "There is no need of that," said she; "there is no real danger." "I rather think from the look of that ruffian at the gate that there will be some such price," said Dudleigh, carelessly. "If I had only brought my pistols, all would be easy. Can it be managed?
What more could she wish than this? For several weeks Dudleigh remained away, and Edith grew excessively impatient. She began to fear for his safety. In her anxiety she sometimes imagined that Wiggins might have caused some harm to fall on him in London.
A neat wayside station, with the usual platform, was nearest; and beyond this arose trees which concealed the view on one side, while on the other there were fields and hedges, and one or two houses in the distance. It was a commonplace scene, in a level sort of country, and Lady Dudleigh, after one short survey, thought no more about it. It was just like any other wayside station.
But gradually the blankness of his terrified face departed, and there came a new expression an expression in which there was equal terror, yet at the same time a full recognition of the danger before him. It was Leon Dudleigh. Reginald said not one word, but looked at him with a stern, relentless face.
Under such circumstances you might not be altogether unhappy." All this Dudleigh had spoken with feverish rapidity, and with every sign of the strongest agitation, occasionally stopping, and then resuming his remarks in a headlong way. But if he had felt agitation, Edith had felt at least quite as much.
I delayed on the road, because I could not bear to bring this news to you. Then I wrote a letter, and thought of sending that, but I feared you might not get it. I could not bear to see you in sorrow." "You, at least, Lieutenant Dudleigh," said Edith, earnestly, "have acted toward me like a true friend and a true gentleman. No one could have done more.
Your only danger would be if I should happen to be ordered out of England. But even then I would order Barber to watch over you." Edith sighed. Her future seemed dark indeed. The chance that Dudleigh might be ordered to America or India filled her with new alarm. Dudleigh rose to go. "In six or eight weeks," said he, "I hope to come again.
Word Of The Day