eofMrs.Crimsworth’sface,adeep,involuntarysighannouncedmydisappointmentshetookitasahomagetoherbeauty,andEdward,whowasevidentlyproudofhisrichandhandsomeyoungwife,threwonmeaglance—halfridicule,halfire.
“Iturnedfromthemboth,andgazingwearilyroundtheroom,Isawtwopicturessetintheoakpanelling—oneoneachsidethemantel-piece.CeasingtotakepartinthebanteringconversationthatflowedonbetweenMr.andMrs.Crimsworth,Ibentmythoughtstotheexaminationofthesepictures.Theywereportraits—aladyandagentleman,bothcostumedinthefashionoftwentyyearsago.Thegentlemanwasintheshade.Icouldnotseehimwell.Theladyhadthebenefitofafullbeamfromthesoftlyshadedlamp.IpresentlyrecognisedherIhadseenthispicturebeforeinchildhooditwasmymotherthatandthecompanionpicturebeingtheonlyheir-loomssavedoutofthesaleofmyfather’sproperty.
“Theface,Iremembered,hadpleasedmeasaboy,butthenIdidnotunderstanditnowIknewhowrarethatclassoffaceisintheworld,andIappreciatedkeenlyitsthoughtful,yetgentleexpression.Theseriousgreyeyepossessedformeastrongcharm,asdidcertainlinesinthefeaturesindicativeofmosttrueandtenderfeeling.Iwassorryitwasonlyapicture.
“IsoonleftMr.andMrs.Crimsworthtothemselvesaservantconductedmetomybed-roominclosingmychamber-door,Ishutoutallintruders—you,Charles,aswellastherest.
“Good-byeforthepresent,
“WILLIAMCRIMSWORTH.”
TothisletterInevergotananswerbeforemyoldfriendreceivedit,hehadacceptedaGovernmentappointmentinoneofthecolonies,andwasalreadyonhiswaytothesceneofhisofficiallabours.Whathasbecomeofhimsince,Iknownot.
TheleisuretimeIhaveatcommand,andwhichIintendedtoemployforhisprivatebenefit,Ishallnowdedicatetothatofthepublicatlarge.Mynarrativeisnotexciting,andaboveall,notmarvellousbutitmayinterestsomeindividuals,who,havingtoiledinthesamevocationasmyself,willfindinmyexperiencefrequentreflectionsoftheirown.Theaboveletterwillserveasanintroduction.Inowproceed.