Alice, or the Mysteries — Book 02

								

himself.  He replied with brief and haughty courtesy.
"My father," continued Caroline, "will be so glad to hear you are come
back.  He will hasten to pay you his respects, and apologize for his
truants.  But I have not formally introduced you to my fellow-offender.
My dear, let me present to you one whom Fame has already made known to
you; Mr. Maltravers, Miss Cameron, step-daughter," she added in a lower
voice, "to the late Lord Vargrave."
At the first part of this introduction Maltravers frowned; at the last he
forgot all displeasure.
"Is it possible?  I thought I had seen you before, but in a dream.  Ah,
then we are not quite strangers!"
Evelyn's eye met his, and though she coloured and strove to look grave, a
half smile brought out the dimples that played round her arch lips.
"But you do not remember me?" added Maltravers.
"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Evelyn, with a sudden impulse; and then checked
herself.
Caroline came to her friend's relief.
"What is this?  You surprise me; where did you ever see Mr. Maltravers
before?"
"I can answer that question, Miss Merton.  When Miss Cameron was but a
child, as high as my little friend here, an accident on the road procured
me her acquaintance; and the sweetness and fortitude she then displayed
left an impression on me not worn out even to this day.  And thus we meet
again," added Maltravers, in a muttered voice, as to himself.  "How
strange a thing life is!"
"Well," said Miss Merton, "we must intrude on you no more,--you have so
much to do.  I am so sorry Sir John is not down to welcome you; but I
hope we shall be good neighbours.  Au revoir!"
And, fancying herself most charming, Caroline bowed, smiled, and walked
off with her train.  Maltravers paused irresolute.  If Evelyn had looked
back, he would have accompanied them home; but Evelyn did not look
back,--and he stayed.
Miss Merton rallied her young friend unmercifully, as they walked
homeward, and she extracted a very brief and imperfect history of the
adventure that had formed the first acquaintance, and of the interview by
which it had been renewed.  But Evelyn did not heed her; and the moment
they arrived at the rectory, she hastened to shut herself in her room,
and write the account of her adventure to her mother.  How often, in her
girlish reveries, had she thought of that incident, that stranger!  And
now, by such a chance, and after so many years, to meet the Unknown by
his own hearth! and that Unknown to be Maltravers!  It was as if a dream
had come true.  While she was yet musing--and the letter not yet
begun--she heard the sound of joy-bells in the distance.  At once she
divined the cause; it was the welcome of the wanderer to his solitary
home!

CHAPTER IV.


MAIS en connaissant votre condition naturelle, usez des moyens
qui lui sont propres, et ne pretendez pas regner par une autre
voie que par celle qui vous fait roi.*--PASCAL.