whathadoccurred,andinformedhimofmyintentiontofollowhisstepsandbeatradesman.Iasked,moreover,ifhecouldgivemeemployment.Hisanswerexpressednoapprobationofmyconduct,buthesaidImightcomedownto——shire,ifIliked,andhewould‘seewhatcouldbedoneinthewayoffurnishingmewithwork.’Irepressedall—evenmentalcommentonhisnote—packedmytrunkandcarpet-bag,andstartedfortheNorthdirectly.
“Aftertwodays’travelling(railroadswerenottheninexistence)Iarrived,onewetOctoberafternoon,inthetownofX——.IhadalwaysunderstoodthatEdwardlivedinthistown,butoninquiryIfoundthatitwasonlyMr.Crimsworth’smillandwarehousewhichweresituatedinthesmokyatmosphereofBigbenClosehisRESIDENCElayfourmilesout,inthecountry.
“ItwaslateintheeveningwhenIalightedatthegatesofthehabitationdesignatedtomeasmybrother’s.AsIadvanceduptheavenue,Icouldseethroughtheshadesoftwilight,andthedarkgloomymistswhichdeepenedthoseshades,thatthehousewaslarge,andthegroundssurroundingitsufficientlyspacious.Ipausedamomentonthelawninfront,andleaningmybackagainstatalltreewhichroseinthecentre,IgazedwithinterestontheexteriorofCrimsworthHall.
“Edwardisrich,”thoughtItomyself.‘Ibelievedhimtobedoingwell—butIdidnotknowhewasmasterofamansionlikethis.’Cuttingshortallmarvellingspeculation,conjecture,&c.,Iadvancedtothefrontdoorandrang.Aman-servantopenedit—Iannouncedmyself—herelievedmeofmywetcloakandcarpet-bag,andusheredmeintoaroomfurnishedasalibrary,wheretherewasabrightfireandcandlesburningonthetableheinformedmethathismasterwasnotyetreturnedfromX——market,butthathewouldcertainlybeathomeinthecourseofhalfanhour.
“Beinglefttomyself,Itookthestuffedeasychair,coveredwithredmorocco,whichstoodbythefireside,andwhilemyeyeswatchedtheflamesdartfromtheglowingcoals,andthecindersfallatintervalsonthehearth,mymindbusieditselfinconjecturesconcerningthemeetingabouttotakeplace.Amidstmuchthatwasdoubtfulinthesubjectoftheseconject