登陆注册
5229500000122

第122章 Chapter LIII. The Largest Nature, the Longest Love

His better judgment protested; his accusing conscience warned him that he was committing, not only an act of folly but (with his religious convictions) an act of sin--and still she held her place in his thoughts. The manager had told him of her sudden departure from the hotel, and had declared with perfect truth that the place of her destination had not been communicated to him. Asked if she had left no directions relating to her correspondence, he had replied that his instructions were to forward all letters to her lawyer. On the point of inquiring next for the name and address, Bennydeck's sense of duty and sense of shame (roused at last) filled him with a timely contempt for himself. In feeling tempted to write to Catherine--in encouraging fond thoughts of her among scenes which kept her in his memory--he had been false to the very principles to which he had appealed at their farewell interview. She had set him the right example, the example which he was determined to follow, in leaving the place. Before he could falter in his resolution, he gave notice of his departure. The one hope for him now was to find a refuge from himself in acts of mercy. Consolation was perhaps waiting for him in his Home.

His unopened correspondence offered a harmless occupation to his thoughts, in the meanwhile. One after another he read the letters, with an attention constantly wandering and constantly recalled, until he opened the last of them that remained. In a moment more his interest was absorbed. The first sentences in the letter told him that the deserted creature whom he had met in the garden--the stranger to whom he had offered help and consolation in the present and in the future--was no other than the lost girl of whom he had been so long in search; the daughter of Roderick Westerfield, once his dearest and oldest friend.

In the pages that followed, the writer confided to him her sad story; leaving it to her father's friend to decide whether she was worthy of the sympathy which he had offered to her, when he thought she was a stranger.

This part of her letter was necessarily a repetition of what Bennydeck had read, in the confession which Catherine had addressed to him. That generous woman had been guilty of one, and but one, concealment of the truth. In relating the circumstances under which the elopement from Mount Morven had taken place, she had abstained, in justice to the sincerity of Sydney's repentance, from mentioning Sydney's name. "Another instance," the Captain thought bitterly, as he closed the letter, "of the virtues which might have made the happiness of my life!"

But he was bound to remember--and he did remember--that there was now a new interest, tenderly associating itself with his life to come. The one best way of telling Sydney how dear she was to him already, for her father's sake, would be to answer her in person.

He hurried away to London by the first train, and drove at once to Randal's place of abode to ask for Sydney's address.

Wondering what had become of the post to his letter, which had given Bennydeck the information of which he was now in search, Randal complied with his friend's request, and then ventured to allude to the report of the Captain's marriage engagement.

"Am I to congratulate you?" he asked.

"Congratulate me on having discovered Roderick Westerfield's daughter."

That reply, and the tone in which it was given, led Randal to ask if the engagement had been prematurely announced.

"There is no engagement at all," Bennydeck answered, with a look which suggested that it might be wise not to dwell on the subject.

But the discovery was welcome to Randal, for his brother's sake.

He ran the risk of consequences, and inquired if Catherine was still to be found at the hotel.

The Captain answered by a sign in the negative.

Randal persisted. "Do you know where she has gone?"

"Nobody knows but her lawyer."

"In that case," Randal concluded, "I shall get the information that I want." Noticing that Bennydeck looked surprised, he mentioned his motive. "Herbert is pining to see Kitty," h continued; "and I mean to help him. He has done all that a man could do to atone for the past. As things are, I believe I shall not offend Catherine, if I arrange for a meeting between father and child. What do you say?"

Bennydeck answered, earnestly and eagerly: "Do it at once!"

They left the house together--one to go to Sydney's lodgings, the other on his way to Mr. Sarrazin's office.

同类推荐
  • 仰节堂集

    仰节堂集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 燕对录

    燕对录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 对床夜语

    对床夜语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 资治通鉴

    资治通鉴

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Heart of the West

    Heart of the West

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 隋末之大乱世召唤

    隋末之大乱世召唤

    新书《扶蜀》已经发布,还请各位捧场支持。现代人穿越回隋末大乱世,却是发现成为被灭国的皇室后裔,正在高麒苦苦思索之际。奇迹再现,一块能够召唤史上猛将的“召唤石”从天而降,一路伴随着高麒征战天下,横扫四方,建立大一统王朝。
  • 王的霸道狐宠

    王的霸道狐宠

    【本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿】女特种兵重生妖狐公主,一朝醒来却成了九王爷的契约宠物。主人强悍,宠物更强悍。什么?!万一主人挂了,宠物也会挂!不行,我要解除契约!在此之前,各位想对我家主人图谋不轨的童鞋请小心,本妖很霸道很阴险!此文秉承上本祸水的YD和美男多多的良好传统,某北尽量写得轻松,如不慎沉重,请见谅!
  • 九域神皇

    九域神皇

    带着天地间最强体质重生在了一个小家族,拥有最强的浩然霸体,神秘强大的黄金神瞳,从此走上一条轰杀各种天才、妖孽之路,无论是天纵奇才,还是绝世妖孽,在秦川面前都是不堪一击,傲视天下,唯我独尊!
  • 天生“幸运心”

    天生“幸运心”

    裴小然是一个普通的人,如果硬要说她有什么不一样的话,那就是她拥有一颗天生好运的“幸运心”,这让她无论做什么都特别顺利,但正因如此,她被卷入了一场充满欺骗的阴谋中。她没想到,闻名全世界的卡斯兰特学院,除了她以外的学生竟然都不是人类!她的好友是一朵花,她的同学是精灵,她的死对头则是神与魔的结合!好在她接受能力强,才没有因此崩溃,而且能近距离接触神秘生物,想想还有点小兴奋呢!不过,有人告诉她,她的幸运将为卡斯兰特带来厄运,也将为她带来厄运!欺骗、利用、谎言……到底有谁是真心待她?
  • 不婚主义的爱情

    不婚主义的爱情

    思恋的人不一定需相见
  • 写给女人的哈佛气质课

    写给女人的哈佛气质课

    如果一个女人的气质不好,仅靠外在的修饰是无法彻底改变现状的。如果你把个人气质的打造寄托于外在的修饰而不是内在的修炼,那么无异于掩耳盗铃,又如同画饼充饥,是自欺欺人的。那么,到底什么是女人的气质呢?气质的定义是:根据人的姿态、长相、穿着、性格、行为等元素结合起来给别人的一种心理感觉。气质是一个人内在涵养或修养的外在体现,是一个女人内在美感的自然外露,而不仅是表面功夫。
  • 妖孽师徒:捡个萌宠腹黑货

    妖孽师徒:捡个萌宠腹黑货

    墨子苒从超神兽身上跳下来,欢快的跑到妖孽男子身边:“师父,母后让我明日在皇城中摆擂招驸马。”他云淡风轻的道:“哦,知道了。”见师父没什么兴趣她转身就走:“我去把这个消息告诉太子哥哥,再去炼一炉丹药给未来夫君当见面礼。”那神色淡然的师父望着她的背影嘴角微微抽搐,可恶的小丫头,真是气死他了。第二日他站到擂台上,小徒弟两眼泪汪汪的抓着他袖子:“师父啊……你想徒儿这辈子都嫁不出去吗?”“打不过我的人自然是配不上你的……”他表情仍淡淡的,只有自己那腹黑的内心知道,其实是不想小徒弟嫁给别人。驸马没选到,一道试婚圣旨让别国的太子和王爷住进公主府。小徒弟一副可爱萌宠的样子,笑眯眯的看着师父和一群美男争风吃醋。
  • 小学生礼仪:1-3年级

    小学生礼仪:1-3年级

    优雅的风度不是天生就有,需要从小培养。生活是一个大课堂,每一个与人打交道的机会都是培养礼仪的机会。对小学生进行文明礼仪教育,在提高思想道德修养、努力构建社会主义和谐社会、提升全民族文明素质、增强国家的文化软实力等方面具有重要意义。礼貌无需花费一文,却能赢得许多。礼貌看似只是一些细节,但也能让人失去很多。本书是专为小学生量身打造的礼仪规范书籍,精选了常用的个人礼仪、校园礼仪、家庭礼仪等内容,教导学生要尊敬长辈、友爱同辈、严于律己、彬彬有礼,重在培养学生养成良好的文明习惯。
  • 销售话术是设计出来的

    销售话术是设计出来的

    能说,会说,说中客户需求;能讲,会讲,讲出高效业绩;正确,错误,对比才知有效;心到,口到,订单轻松拿到。乔拉拉编著的《销售话术是设计出来的》从多个角度展现了销售人员在工作中可能会遇到的许多销售情景,针对每个情景,分别提供了销售人员需要掌握的沟通技巧与方法,将情景对话与技巧说明相结合,是销售人员提升沟通能力的实务工具书。千里之行,始于足下。当你通过本书掌握了相应的口才理论与技能后,就需要在销售实战中去运用它,去不断地完善它,因为你的说话能力是能够通过不断实践而炼就的。
  • 东堂词

    东堂词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。