第18章

whomCERTAINpersonsthoughttobedead，wasnotso，butliving，andinfullpossessionofhismemory，andmoreoverreadyandabletomakeGREATdelinquentstremble。’Itthenwentontodescribethemurder，without，however，mentioningnames；andindoingso，itenteredintominuteandcircumstantialparticularsofwhichnonebutanEYE-WITNESScouldhavebeenpossessed，andbyimplicationsalmosttoounequivocaltoberegardedinthelightofinsinuation，toinvolvethe’TITLED

GAMBLER’intheguiltofthetransaction。

MyfatheratonceurgedSirArthurtoproceedagainstthepaperinanactionoflibel；buthewouldnothearofit，norconsenttomyfather’stakinganylegalstepswhateverinthematter。Myfather，however，wroteinathreateningtonetoFaulkner，demandingasurrenderoftheauthoroftheobnoxiousarticle。Theanswertothisapplicationisstillinmypossession，andispennedinanapologetictone：itstatesthatthemanuscripthadbeenhandedin，paidfor，andinsertedasanadvertisement，withoutsufficientinquiry，oranyknowledgeastowhomitreferred。

Nostep，however，wastakentoclearmyuncle’scharacterinthejudgmentofthepublic；andasheimmediatelysoldasmallproperty，theapplicationoftheproceedsofwhichwasknowntonone，hewassaidtohavedisposedofittoenablehimselftobuyoffthethreatenedinformation。

Howeverthetruthmighthavebeen，itiscertainthatnochargesrespectingthemysteriousmurderwereafterwardspubliclymadeagainstmyuncle，and，asfarasexternaldisturbanceswereconcerned，heenjoyedhenceforwardperfectsecurityandquiet。

Adeepandlastingimpression，however，hadbeenmadeuponthepublicmind，andSirArthurT——nwasnolongervisitedornoticedbythegentryandaristocracyofthecounty，whoseattentionandcourtesieshehadhithertoreceived。Heaccordinglyaffectedtodespisetheseenjoymentswhichhecouldnotprocure，andshunnedeventhatsocietywhichhemighthavecommanded。

ThisisallthatIneedrecapitulateofmyuncle’shistory，andInowrecurtomyown。

Althoughmyfatherhadnever，withinmyrecollection，visited，orbeenvisitedby，myuncle，eachbeingofsedentary，procrastinating，andsecludedhabits，andtheirrespectiveresidencesbeingveryfarapart——

theonelyinginthecountyofGalway，theotherinthatofCork——hewasstronglyattachedtohisbrother，andevincedhisaffectionbyanactivecorrespondence，andbydeeplyandproudlyresentingthatneglectwhichhadmarkedSirArthurasunfittomixinsociety。

WhenIwasabouteighteenyearsofage，myfather，whosehealthhadbeengraduallydeclining，died，leavingmeinheartwretchedanddesolate，and，owingtohispreviousseclusion，withfewacquaintances，andalmostnofriends。

Theprovisionsofhiswillwerecurious，andwhenIhadsufficientlycometomyselftolistentoorcomprehendthem，surprisedmenotalittle：allhisvastpropertywaslefttome，andtotheheirsofmybody，forever；and，indefaultofsuchheirs，itwastogoaftermydeathtomyuncle，SirArthur，withoutanyentail。

Atthesametime，thewillappointedhimmyguardian，desiringthatImightbereceivedwithinhishouse，andresidewithhisfamily，andunderhiscare，duringthetermofmyminority；andinconsiderationoftheincreasedexpenseconsequentuponsuchanarrangement，ahandsomeannuitywasallottedtohimduringthetermofmyproposedresidence。

TheobjectofthislastprovisionIatonceunderstood：myfatherdesired，bymakingitthedirect，apparentinterestofSirArthurthatIshoulddiewithoutissue，whileatthesametimeheplacedmewhollyinhispower，toprovetotheworldhowgreatandunshakenwashisconfidenceinhisbrother’sinnocenceandhonour，andalsotoaffordhimanopportunityofshowingthatthismarkofconfidencewasnotunworthilybestowed。

Itwasastrange，perhapsanidlescheme；butasIhadbeenalwaysbroughtupinthehabitofconsideringmyuncleasadeeply-injuredman，andhadbeentaught，almostasapartofmyreligion，toregardhimastheverysoulofhonour，Ifeltnofurtheruneasinessrespectingthearrangementthanthatlikelytoresulttoatimidgirl，ofsecludedhabits，fromtheimmediateprospectoftakingupherabodeforthefirsttimeinherlifeamongtotalstrangers。

Previoustoleavingmyhome，whichIfeltIshoulddowithaheavyheart，Ire-

ceivedamosttenderandaffectionateletterfrommyuncle，calculated，ifanythingcoulddoso，toremovethebitternessofpartingfromscenesfamiliaranddearfrommyearliestchildhood，andinsomedegreetoreconcilemetothemeasure。

ItwasduringafineautumnthatI

approachedtheolddomainofCarrickleigh。

IshallnotsoonforgettheimpressionofsadnessandofgloomwhichallthatIsawproduceduponmymind；thesunbeamswerefallingwitharichandmelancholytintuponthefineoldtrees，whichstoodinlordlygroups，castingtheirlong，sweepingshadowsoverrockandsward。Therewasanairofneglectanddecayaboutthespot，whichamountedalmosttodesolation；thesymptomsofthisincreasedinnumberasweapproachedthebuildingitself，nearwhichthegroundhadbeenoriginallymoreartificiallyandcarefullycultivatedthanelsewhere，andwhoseneglectconsequentlymoreimmediatelyandstrikinglybetrayeditself。

Asweproceeded，theroadwoundnearthebedsofwhathadbeenformallytwofish-ponds，whichwerenownothingmorethanstagnantswamps，overgrownwithrankweeds，andhereandthereencroacheduponbythestragglingunderwood；theavenueitselfwasmuchbroken，andinmanyplacesthestoneswerealmostconcealedbygrassandnettles；theloosestonewallswhichhadhereandthereintersectedthebroadparkwere，inmanyplaces，brokendown，soasnolongertoanswertheiroriginalpurposeasfences；

pierswerenowandthentobeseen，butthegatesweregone；and，toaddtothegeneralairofdilapidation，somehugetrunkswerelyingscatteredthroughthevenerableoldtrees，eithertheworkofthewinterstorms，orperhapsthevictimsofsomeextensivebutdesultoryschemeofdenudation，whichtheprojectorhadnotcapitalorperseverancetocarryintofulleffect。

Afterthecarriagehadtravelledamileofthisavenue，wereachedthesummitofratheranabrupteminence，oneofthemanywhichaddedtothepicturesqueness，ifnottotheconvenienceofthisrudepassage。FromthetopofthisridgethegreywallsofCarrickleighwerevisible，risingatasmalldistanceinfront，anddarkenedbythehoarywoodwhichcrowdedaroundthem。Itwasaquadrangularbuildingofconsiderableextent，andthefrontwhichlaytowardsus，andinwhichthegreatentrancewasplaced，boreunequivocalmarksofantiquity；thetime-worn，solemnaspectoftheoldbuilding，theruinousanddesertedappearanceofthewholeplace，andtheassociationswhichconnecteditwithadarkpageinthehistoryofmyfamily，combinedtodepressspiritsalreadypredisposedforthereceptionofsombreanddejectingimpressions。

Whenthecarriagedrewupinthegrass-

growncourtyardbeforethehall-door，twolazy-lookingmen，whoseappearancewellaccordedwiththatoftheplacewhichtheytenanted，alarmedbytheobstreperousbarkingofagreatchaineddog，ranoutfromsomehalf-ruinousout-houses，andtookchargeofthehorses；thehall-doorstoodopen，andIenteredagloomyandimperfectlylightedapartment，andfoundnoonewithin。However，Ihadnotlongtowaitinthisawkwardpredicament，forbeforemyluggagehadbeendepositedinthehouse，indeed，beforeIhadwellremovedmycloakandotherwraps，soastoenablemetolookaround，ayounggirlranlightlyintothehall，andkissingmeheartily，andsomewhatboisterously，exclaimed：

’Mydearcousin，mydearMargaret——

Iamsodelighted——sooutofbreath。Wedidnotexpectyoutillteno’clock；myfatherissomewhereabouttheplace，hemustbecloseathand。James——Corney——runoutandtellyourmaster——mybrotherisseldomathome，atleastatanyreasonablehour——youmustbesotired——sofatigued——letmeshowyoutoyourroom——

seethatLadyMargaret’sluggageisallbroughtup——youmustliedownandrestyourself——Deborah，bringsomecoffee——upthesestairs；wearesodelightedtoseeyou——youcannotthinkhowlonelyIhavebeen——howsteepthesestairsare，arenotthey？Iamsogladyouarecome——I

couldhardlybringmyselftobelievethatyouwerereallycoming——howgoodofyou，dearLadyMargaret。’

Therewasrealgood-natureanddelightinmycousin’sgreeting，andakindofconstitutionalconfidenceofmannerwhichplacedmeatonceatease，andmademefeelimmediatelyupontermsofintimacywithher。Theroomintowhichsheusheredme，althoughpartakinginthegeneralairofdecaywhichpervadedthemansionandallaboutit，hadneverthelessbeenfittedupwithevidentattentiontocomfort，andevenwithsomedingyattemptatluxury；butwhatpleasedmemostwasthatitopened，byaseconddoor，uponalobbywhichcommunicatedwithmyfaircousin’sapartment；acircumstancewhichdivestedtheroom，inmyeyes，oftheairofsolitudeandsadnesswhichwouldotherwisehavecharacterisedit，toadegreealmostpainfultoonesodejectedinspiritsasIwas。

AftersucharrangementsasIfoundnecessarywerecompleted，webothwentdowntotheparlour，alargewainscotedroom，hungroundwithgrimoldportraits，and，asIwasnotsorrytosee，containinginitsamplegratealargeandcheerfulfire。Heremycousinhadleisuretotalkmoreatherease；andfromherIlearnedsomethingofthemannersandthehabitsofthetworemainingmembersofherfamily，whomIhadnotyetseen。

OnmyarrivalIhadknownnothingofthefamilyamongwhomIwascometoreside，exceptthatitconsistedofthreeindividuals，myuncle，andhissonanddaughter，LadyT——nhavingbeenlongdead。Inadditiontothisveryscantystockofinformation，Ishortlylearnedfrommycommunicativecompanionthatmyunclewas，asIhadsuspected，completelyretiredinhishabits，andbesidesthat，havingbeensofarbackasshecouldwellrecollect，alwaysratherstrict，asreformedrakesfrequentlybecome，hehadlatterlybeengrowingmoregloomilyandsternlyreligiousthanheretofore。

Heraccountofherbrotherwasfarlessfavourable，thoughshedidnotsayanythingdirectlytohisdisadvantage。FromallthatIcouldgatherfromher，Iwasledtosupposethathewasaspecimenoftheidle，coarse-mannered，profligate，low-minded’squirearchy’——aresultwhichmightnaturallyhaveflowedfromthecircum-

stanceofhisbeing，asitwere，outlawedfromsociety，anddrivenforcompanionshiptogradesbelowhisown——enjoying，too，thedangerousprerogativeofspendingmuchmoney。

However，youmayeasilysupposethatIfoundnothinginmycousin’scommunicationfullytobearmeoutinsoverydecidedaconclusion。

Iawaitedthearrivalofmyuncle，whichwaseverymomenttobeexpected，withfeelingshalfofalarm，halfofcuriosity——asensationwhichIhaveoftensinceexperienced，thoughtoalessdegree，whenuponthepointofstandingforthefirsttimeinthepresenceofoneofwhomIhavelongbeeninthehabitofhearingorthinkingwithinterest。

Itwas，therefore，withsomelittleperturbationthatIheard，firstaslightbustleattheouterdoor，thenaslowsteptraversethehall，andfinallywitnessedthedooropen，andmyuncleentertheroom。

Hewasastriking-lookingman；frompeculiaritiesbothofpersonandofgarb，thewholeeffectofhisappearanceamountedtoextremesingularity。Hewastall，andwhenyounghisfiguremusthavebeenstrikinglyelegant；asitwas，however，itseffectwasmarredbyaverydecidedstoop。

Hisdresswasofasobercolour，andinfashionanteriortoanythingwhichIcouldremember。Itwas，however，handsome，andbynomeanscarelesslyputon；butwhatcompletedthesingularityofhisappearancewashisuncut，whitehair，whichhunginlong，butnotatallneglectedcurls，evensofarashisshoulders，andwhichcombinedwithhisregularlyclassicfeatures，andfinedarkeyes，tobestowuponhimanairofvenerabledignityandpride，whichIhaveneverseenequalledelsewhere。Iroseasheentered，andmethimaboutthemiddleoftheroom；hekissedmycheekandbothmyhands，saying：

’Youaremostwelcome，dearchild，aswelcomeasthecommandofthispoorplaceandallthatitcontainscanmakeyou。Iammostrejoicedtoseeyou——

trulyrejoiced。Itrustthatyouarenotmuchfatigued——praybeseatedagain。’

Heledmetomychair，andcontinued：’I

amgladtoperceiveyouhavemadeacquaintancewithEmilyalready；Isee，inyourbeingthusbroughttogether，thefoundationofalastingfriendship。Youarebothinnocent，andbothyoung。Godblessyou——Godblessyou，andmakeyouallthatIcouldwish。’

Heraisedhiseyes，andremainedforafewmomentssilent，asifinsecretprayer。

Ifeltthatitwasimpossiblethatthisman，withfeelingssoquick，sowarm，sotender，couldbethewretchthatpublicopinionhadrepresentedhimtobe。Iwasmorethaneverconvincedofhisinnocence。

Hismannerwas，orappearedtome，mostfascinating；therewasamingledkindnessandcourtesyinitwhichseemedtospeakbenevolenceitself。ItwasamannerwhichIfeltcoldartcouldneverhavetaught；itowedmostofitscharmtoitsappearingtoemanatedirectlyfromtheheart；itmustbeagenuineindexoftheowner’smind。SoIthought。

MyunclehavinggivenmefullytounderstandthatIwasmostwelcome，andmightcommandwhateverwashisown，pressedmetotakesomerefreshment；andonmyrefusing，heobservedthatpreviouslytobiddingmegood-night，hehadonedutyfurthertoperform，oneinwhoseobservancehewasconvincedIwouldcheerfullyacquiesce。