And if,
some day, the divine enchanter Love takes the poor fellow underbids
guidance, and teaches him to do without billiards and beer, your Bohemian
settles down into the purest and best of men. Think what Goldy might have
been if some good woman had taken compassion upon him and married him,
and henpecked him ever afterwards. He might have written as many novels
as Sir Walter Scott, and died master of some Hibernian Abbotsford, some
fair domain among the bright green hills that look down upon broad
Shannon's silvery falls. No, Captain; your intelligence has not
annihilated me. I can face the future boldly with my dear young wife upon
my arm."
"Upon my soul, Val, you're a very noble fellow!" exclaimed Horatio Paget,
with real enthusiasm; "and I am sorry I have kept you in the dark so
long."
"You have kept me in the dark? Yes; to be sure. How long have you known
this--about Susan Meynell?"
"Well, my dear boy, not very long."
"But how long? A month--two months? Yes; you have known Lenoble's
position ever since you knew him; and Charlotte told me three months ago
of Diana's engagement to Lenoble. Do you know that if Sheldon had
succeeded, Charlotte's blood would have been upon your head? If you had
not concealed the truth, his villany would never have been attempted."
"But, my dear Val," exclaimed the Captain piteously, "I was not to
know--"
"No; you were not to know that there could be such a wretch as Philip
Sheldon upon this earth.
Pages:
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536