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tales and fantasies-µÚ25ÕÂ

С˵£º tales and fantasies ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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'You¡¡counted¡¡rightly¡¡then£»'¡¡he¡¡retorted¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡will¡¡not£»¡¡to

please¡¡you¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡make¡¡both¡¡of¡¡us¡¡unhappy¡¡for¡¡our

lives£»¡¡and¡¡since¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡marry¡¡you£»¡¡we¡¡have¡¡only¡¡been¡¡too

long¡¡away£»¡¡and¡¡must¡¡go¡¡home¡¡at¡¡once¡£'



'Dick£»'¡¡she¡¡cried¡¡suddenly£»¡¡'perhaps¡¡I¡¡might¡¡¡­¡¡perhaps¡¡in

time¡¡¡­¡¡perhaps¡¡¡­¡¡'



'There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡perhaps¡¡about¡¡the¡¡matter£»'¡¡interrupted¡¡Dick¡£¡¡¡¡'I

must¡¡go¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡phaeton¡£'¡¡¡¡And¡¡with¡¡that¡¡he¡¡strode¡¡from

the¡¡station£»¡¡all¡¡in¡¡a¡¡glow¡¡of¡¡passion¡¡and¡¡virtue¡£¡¡¡¡Esther£»

whose¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡come¡¡alive¡¡and¡¡her¡¡cheeks¡¡flushed¡¡during¡¡these

last¡¡words£»¡¡relapsed¡¡in¡¡a¡¡second¡¡into¡¡a¡¡state¡¡of

petrifaction¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡remained¡¡without¡¡motion¡¡during¡¡his

absence£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡suffered¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡put¡¡back

into¡¡the¡¡phaeton£»¡¡and¡¡driven¡¡off¡¡on¡¡the¡¡return¡¡journey¡¡like

an¡¡idiot¡¡or¡¡a¡¡tired¡¡child¡£¡¡¡¡Compared¡¡with¡¡what¡¡she¡¡was¡¡now£»

her¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡morning¡¡seemed¡¡positively¡¡natural¡£¡¡¡¡She

sat¡¡white¡¡and¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡silent£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡speculation

in¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡Poor¡¡Dick¡¡flailed¡¡and¡¡flailed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡pony£»¡¡and

once¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡whistle£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡courage¡¡was¡¡going¡¡down£»¡¡huge

clouds¡¡of¡¡despair¡¡gathered¡¡together¡¡in¡¡his¡¡soul£»¡¡and¡¡from

time¡¡to¡¡time¡¡their¡¡darkness¡¡was¡¡divided¡¡by¡¡a¡¡piercing¡¡flash

of¡¡longing¡¡and¡¡regret¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡love¡¡¡­¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost

his¡¡love¡¡for¡¡good¡£



The¡¡pony¡¡was¡¡tired£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡hills¡¡very¡¡long¡¡and¡¡steep£»¡¡and

the¡¡air¡¡sultrier¡¡than¡¡ever£»¡¡for¡¡now¡¡the¡¡breeze¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fail

entirely¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡if¡¡this¡¡miserable¡¡drive¡¡would¡¡never

be¡¡done£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡poor¡¡Dick¡¡would¡¡never¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡go¡¡away¡¡and

be¡¡comfortably¡¡wretched¡¡by¡¡himself£»¡¡for¡¡all¡¡his¡¡desire¡¡was¡¡to

escape¡¡from¡¡her¡¡presence¡¡and¡¡the¡¡reproach¡¡of¡¡her¡¡averted

looks¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡love£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡¡­¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡his

love¡¡for¡¡good¡£



They¡¡were¡¡already¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cottage£»¡¡when¡¡his¡¡heart

again¡¡faltered¡¡and¡¡he¡¡appealed¡¡to¡¡her¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡speaking¡¡low

and¡¡eagerly¡¡in¡¡broken¡¡phrases¡£



'I¡¡cannot¡¡live¡¡without¡¡your¡¡love£»'¡¡he¡¡concluded¡£



'I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡you¡¡mean£»'¡¡she¡¡replied£»¡¡and¡¡I

believe¡¡with¡¡perfect¡¡truth¡£



'Then£»'¡¡said¡¡he£»¡¡wounded¡¡to¡¡the¡¡quick£»¡¡'your¡¡aunt¡¡might¡¡come

and¡¡fetch¡¡you¡¡herself¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡course¡¡you¡¡can¡¡command¡¡me¡¡as¡¡you

please¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡better¡¡so¡£'



'Oh¡¡yes£»'¡¡she¡¡said¡¡wearily£»¡¡'better¡¡so¡£'



This¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡exchange¡¡of¡¡words¡¡between¡¡them¡¡till¡¡about

four¡¡o'clock£»¡¡the¡¡phaeton£»¡¡mounting¡¡the¡¡lane£»¡¡'opened¡¡out'

the¡¡cottage¡¡between¡¡the¡¡leafy¡¡banks¡£¡¡¡¡Thin¡¡smoke¡¡went

straight¡¡up¡¡from¡¡the¡¡chimney£»¡¡the¡¡flowers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡the

hawthorn¡¡in¡¡the¡¡lane£»¡¡hung¡¡down¡¡their¡¡heads¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heat£»¡¡the

stillness¡¡was¡¡broken¡¡only¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡hoofs¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡right

before¡¡the¡¡gate¡¡a¡¡livery¡¡servant¡¡rode¡¡slowly¡¡up¡¡and¡¡down£»

leading¡¡a¡¡saddle¡¡horse¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡in¡¡this¡¡last¡¡Dick¡¡shuddered¡¡to

identify¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡chestnut¡£



Alas£¡¡¡poor¡¡Richard£»¡¡what¡¡should¡¡this¡¡portend£¿



The¡¡servant£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡duty¡¡bound£»¡¡dismounted¡¡and¡¡took¡¡the

phaeton¡¡into¡¡his¡¡keeping£»¡¡yet¡¡Dick¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡touched¡¡his¡¡hat

to¡¡him¡¡with¡¡something¡¡of¡¡a¡¡grin¡£¡¡¡¡Esther£»¡¡passive¡¡as¡¡ever£»

was¡¡helped¡¡out¡¡and¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡garden¡¡with¡¡a¡¡slow¡¡and

mechanical¡¡gait£»¡¡and¡¡Dick£»¡¡following¡¡close¡¡behind¡¡her£»¡¡heard

from¡¡within¡¡the¡¡cottage¡¡his¡¡father's¡¡voice¡¡upraised¡¡in¡¡an

anathema£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡shriller¡¡tones¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Admiral¡¡responding¡¡in

the¡¡key¡¡of¡¡war¡£







CHAPTER¡¡VIII¡¡¡­¡¡BATTLE¡¡ROYAL







SQUIRE¡¡NASEBY£»¡¡on¡¡sitting¡¡down¡¡to¡¡lunch£»¡¡had¡¡inquired¡¡for

Dick£»¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡since¡¡the¡¡day¡¡before¡¡at¡¡dinner£»

and¡¡the¡¡servant¡¡answering¡¡awkwardly¡¡that¡¡Master¡¡Richard¡¡had

come¡¡back¡¡but¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡out¡¡again¡¡with¡¡the¡¡pony¡¡phaeton£»¡¡his

suspicions¡¡became¡¡aroused£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡cross¡­questioned¡¡the¡¡man

until¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡was¡¡out¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡appeared¡¡from¡¡this¡¡report¡¡that

Dick¡¡had¡¡been¡¡going¡¡about¡¡for¡¡nearly¡¡a¡¡month¡¡with¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡in

the¡¡Vale¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡Miss¡¡Van¡¡Tromp£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡lived¡¡near¡¡Lord

Trevanion's¡¡upper¡¡wood£»¡¡that¡¡recently¡¡Miss¡¡Van¡¡Tromp's¡¡papa

had¡¡returned¡¡home¡¡from¡¡foreign¡¡parts¡¡after¡¡a¡¡prolonged

absence£»¡¡that¡¡this¡¡papa¡¡was¡¡an¡¡old¡¡gentleman£»¡¡very¡¡chatty¡¡and

free¡¡with¡¡his¡¡money¡¡in¡¡the¡¡public¡­house¡¡¡­¡¡whereupon¡¡Mr¡£

Naseby's¡¡face¡¡became¡¡encrimsoned£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡papa£»¡¡furthermore£»

was¡¡said¡¡to¡¡be¡¡an¡¡admiral¡¡¡­¡¡whereupon¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Naseby¡¡spat¡¡out¡¡a

whistle¡¡brief¡¡and¡¡fierce¡¡as¡¡an¡¡oath£»¡¡that¡¡Master¡¡Dick¡¡seemed

very¡¡friendly¡¡with¡¡the¡¡papa¡¡¡­¡¡'God¡¡help¡¡him£¡'¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£

Naseby£»¡¡that¡¡last¡¡night¡¡Master¡¡Dick¡¡had¡¡not¡¡come¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡to¡­

day¡¡he¡¡had¡¡driven¡¡away¡¡in¡¡the¡¡phaeton¡¡with¡¡the¡¡young¡¡lady¡¡¡­



'Young¡¡woman£»'¡¡corrected¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Naseby¡£



'Yes£»¡¡sir£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡unwilling¡¡enough¡¡to

gossip¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡now¡¡cowed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡his

communications¡¡on¡¡the¡¡master¡£¡¡¡¡'Young¡¡woman£»¡¡sir£¡'



'Had¡¡they¡¡luggage£¿'¡¡demanded¡¡the¡¡Squire¡£



'Yes£»¡¡sir¡£'



Mr¡£¡¡Naseby¡¡was¡¡silent¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡struggling¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡down

his¡¡emotion£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡mastered¡¡it¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡to¡¡mount¡¡into¡¡the

sarcastic¡¡vein£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡danger¡¡of¡¡melting

into¡¡the¡¡sorrowful¡£



'And¡¡was¡¡this¡¡¡­¡¡this¡¡Van¡¡Dunk¡¡with¡¡them£¿'¡¡he¡¡asked£»¡¡dwelling

scornfully¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡name¡£



The¡¡servant¡¡believed¡¡not£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡shift¡¡the

responsibility¡¡of¡¡speech¡¡to¡¡other¡¡shoulders£»¡¡suggested¡¡that

perhaps¡¡the¡¡master¡¡had¡¡better¡¡inquire¡¡further¡¡from¡¡George¡¡the

stableman¡¡in¡¡person¡£



'Tell¡¡him¡¡to¡¡saddle¡¡the¡¡chestnut¡¡and¡¡come¡¡with¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡can

take¡¡the¡¡gray¡¡gelding£»¡¡for¡¡we¡¡may¡¡ride¡¡fast¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡you

can¡¡take¡¡away¡¡this¡¡trash£»'¡¡added¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Naseby£»¡¡pointing¡¡to¡¡the

luncheon£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡arose£»¡¡lordly¡¡in¡¡his¡¡anger£»¡¡and¡¡marched

forth¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡terrace¡¡to¡¡await¡¡his¡¡horse¡£



There¡¡Dick's¡¡old¡¡nurse¡¡shrunk¡¡up¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡news¡¡went

like¡¡wildfire¡¡over¡¡Naseby¡¡House£»¡¡and¡¡timidly¡¡expressed¡¡a¡¡hope

that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡much¡¡amiss¡¡with¡¡the¡¡young¡¡master¡£



'I'll¡¡pull¡¡him¡¡through£»'¡¡the¡¡Squire¡¡said¡¡grimly£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he

meant¡¡to¡¡pull¡¡him¡¡through¡¡a¡¡threshing¡­mill£»¡¡'I'll¡¡save¡¡him

from¡¡this¡¡gang£»¡¡God¡¡help¡¡him¡¡with¡¡the¡¡next£¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡has¡¡a¡¡taste

for¡¡low¡¡company£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡natural¡¡affections¡¡to¡¡steady¡¡him¡£

His¡¡father¡¡was¡¡no¡¡society¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡go¡¡fuddling¡¡with¡¡a

Dutchman£»¡¡Nance£»¡¡and¡¡now¡¡he's¡¡caught¡£¡¡¡¡Let¡¡us¡¡pray¡¡he'll¡¡take

the¡¡lesson£»'¡¡he¡¡added¡¡more¡¡gravely£»¡¡'but¡¡youth¡¡is¡¡here¡¡to

make¡¡troubles£»¡¡and¡¡age¡¡to¡¡pull¡¡them¡¡out¡¡again¡£'



Nance¡¡whimpered¡¡and¡¡recalled¡¡several¡¡episodes¡¡of¡¡Dick's

childhood£»¡¡which¡¡moved¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Naseby¡¡to¡¡blow¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡and¡¡shake

her¡¡hard¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hand£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡arriving

opportunely£»¡¡to¡¡get¡¡himself¡¡without¡¡delay¡¡into¡¡the¡¡saddle¡¡and

canter¡¡off¡£



He¡¡rode¡¡straight£»¡¡hot¡¡spur£»¡¡to¡¡Thymebury£»¡¡where£»¡¡as¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be

expected£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡glean¡¡no¡¡tidings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡runaways¡£¡¡¡¡They

had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡at¡¡the¡¡George£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡seen¡¡at

the¡¡station¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡shadow¡¡darkened¡¡on¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Naseby's¡¡face£»¡¡the

junction¡¡did¡¡not¡¡occur¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡his¡¡last¡¡hope¡¡was¡¡for¡¡Van

Tromp's¡¡cottage£»¡¡thither¡¡he¡¡bade¡¡George¡¡guide¡¡him£»¡¡and

thither¡¡he¡¡followed£»¡¡nursing¡¡grief£»¡¡anxiety£»¡¡and¡¡indignation

in¡¡his¡¡heart¡£



'Here¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡sir£»'¡¡said¡¡George¡¡stopping¡£



'What£¡¡¡on¡¡my¡¡own¡¡land£¡'¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡¡¡'How's¡¡this£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡let¡¡this

place¡¡to¡¡somebody¡¡¡­¡¡M'Whirter¡¡or¡¡M'Glashan¡£'



'Miss¡¡M'Glashan¡¡was¡¡the¡¡young¡¡lady's¡¡aunt£»¡¡sir£»¡¡I¡¡believe£»'

returned¡¡George¡£



'Ay¡¡¡­¡¡dummies£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Squire¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡shall¡¡whistle¡¡for¡¡my

rent¡¡too¡£¡¡¡¡Here£»¡¡take¡¡my¡¡horse¡£'



The¡¡Admiral£»¡¡this¡¡hot¡¡afternoon£»¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡by¡¡the¡¡window

with¡¡a¡¡long¡¡glass¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡already¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡Squire¡¡by¡¡sight£»¡¡and

now£»¡¡seeing¡¡him¡¡dismount¡¡before¡¡the¡¡cottage¡¡and¡¡come¡¡striding

through¡¡the¡¡garden£»¡¡concluded¡¡without¡¡doubt¡¡he¡¡was¡¡there¡¡to

ask¡¡for¡¡Esther's¡¡hand¡£



'This¡¡is¡¡why¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡is¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡home£»'¡¡he¡¡thought£º¡¡'a¡¡very

suitable¡¡delicacy¡¡on¡¡young¡¡Naseby's¡¡part¡£'



And¡¡he¡¡composed¡¡himself¡¡with¡¡some¡¡pomp£»¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡loud

rattle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡riding¡­whip¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡door¡¡with¡¡a¡¡dulcet

invitation¡¡to¡¡enter£»¡¡and¡¡coming¡¡forward¡¡with¡¡a¡¡bow¡¡and¡¡a

smile£»¡¡'Mr¡£¡¡Naseby£»¡¡I¡¡believe£»'¡¡said¡¡he¡£



The¡¡Squire¡¡came¡¡armed¡¡for¡¡battle£»¡¡took¡¡in¡¡his¡¡man¡¡from¡¡top¡¡to

toe¡¡in¡¡one¡¡rapid¡¡and¡¡scornful¡¡glance£»¡¡and¡¡decided¡¡on¡¡a¡¡course

at¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡must¡¡let¡¡the¡¡fellow¡¡see¡¡that¡¡he¡¡understood¡¡him¡£



'You¡¡are¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Van¡¡Tromp£¿'¡¡he¡¡returned¡¡roughly£»¡¡and¡¡without

taking¡¡any¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡proffered¡¡hand¡£



'The¡¡same£»¡¡sir£»'¡¡replied¡¡the¡¡Admiral¡£¡¡¡¡'Pray¡¡be¡¡seated¡£'



'No¡¡sir£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Squire£»¡¡point¡­blank£»¡¡'I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be

seated¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡told¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡an¡¡admiral£»'¡¡he¡¡added¡£



'No¡¡sir£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡an¡¡admiral£»'¡¡returned¡¡Van¡¡Tromp£»¡¡who¡¡now

began¡¡to¡¡grow¡¡nettled¡¡and¡¡enter¡¡into¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡the

interview¡£



'Then¡¡why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡call¡¡yourself¡¡one£»¡¡sir£¿'



'I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡your¡¡pardon£»¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not£»'¡¡says¡¡Van¡¡Tromp£»¡¡as

grand¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Pope¡£



But¡¡nothing¡¡was¡¡of¡¡avail¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Squire¡£



'You¡¡sail¡¡under¡¡false¡¡colours¡¡from¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡end£»'¡¡he

said¡£¡¡¡¡'Your¡¡very¡¡house¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡under¡¡a¡¡sham¡¡name¡£'



'It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡my¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡my¡¡daughter's¡¡guest£»'¡¡replied¡¡the

Admiral¡£¡¡¡¡'If¡¡it¡¡WERE¡¡my¡¡house¡¡¡­¡¡'



'Well£¿'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡Squire£»¡¡'what¡¡then£¿¡¡hey£¿'



The¡¡Admiral¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡him¡¡nobly£»¡¡but¡¡was¡¡silent¡£



'Look¡¡here£»'¡¡said¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Naseby£»¡¡'this¡¡intimidation¡¡is¡¡a¡¡waste

of¡¡time£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡thrown¡¡away¡¡on¡¡me£»¡¡sir£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡not¡¡succeed

with¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡permit¡¡you¡¡even¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡time¡¡by¡¡your

fencing¡£¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡sir£»¡¡I¡¡presume¡¡you¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡brings¡¡me

here¡£'



'I¡¡am¡¡entirely¡¡at¡¡a¡¡loss¡¡to¡¡account¡¡for¡¡your¡¡intrusion£»'¡¡bows

and¡¡waves¡¡Van¡¡Tromp¡£



'I¡¡will¡¡try¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡then¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡come¡¡here¡¡as¡¡a¡¡father'¡¡¡­

down¡¡came¡¡the¡¡riding¡­whip¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡table¡¡¡­¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡right¡¡and

justice¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡your¡¡calculations£»¡¡but

you¡¡calculated¡¡without¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡I

see¡¡through¡¡you¡¡and¡¡your¡¡manoeuvres¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡dealing¡¡now¡¡with¡¡a

conspiracy¡¡¡­¡¡I¡¡stigmatise¡¡it¡¡as¡¡such£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡will¡¡expose¡¡it

and¡¡crush¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡now¡¡I¡¡order¡¡you¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡how¡¡far¡¡things

have¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡whither¡¡you¡¡have¡¡smuggled¡¡my¡¡unhappy¡¡son¡£'



'My¡¡God£»¡¡sir£¡'¡¡Van¡¡Tromp¡¡broke¡¡out£»¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡had¡¡about¡¡enough

of¡¡this¡£¡¡¡¡Your¡¡son£¿¡¡¡¡God¡¡knows¡¡where¡¡he¡¡is¡¡for¡¡me£¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡the

devil¡¡have¡¡I¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡your¡¡son£¿¡¡¡¡My¡¡daughter¡¡is¡¡out£»¡¡for

the¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡that£»¡¡I¡¡might¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡where¡¡she¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡what

would¡¡you¡¡say¡¡to¡¡that£¿¡¡¡¡But¡¡this¡¡is¡¡all¡¡midsummer¡¡madness¡£

Name¡¡your¡¡business¡¡distinctly£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡off¡£'



'How¡¡often¡¡am¡¡I¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡you£¿'¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡Squire¡£¡¡¡¡'Where¡¡did

your¡¡daughter¡¡take¡¡my¡¡son¡¡to¡­day¡¡in¡¡that¡¡cursed¡¡pony

carriage£¿'



'In¡¡a¡¡pony¡¡carriage£¿'¡¡repeated¡¡Van¡¡Tromp¡£



'Yes£»¡¡sir¡¡¡­¡¡with¡¡luggage¡£'



'Luggage£¿'¡¡¡­¡¡Van¡¡Tromp¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡a¡¡little¡¡pale¡£



'Luggage£»¡¡I¡¡said¡¡¡­¡¡luggage£¡'¡¡shouted¡¡Naseby¡£¡¡¡¡'You¡¡may¡¡spare

me¡¡this¡¡dissimulation¡£¡¡¡¡Where's¡¡my¡¡son¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡are¡¡speaking¡¡to

a¡¡father£»¡¡sir£»¡¡a¡¡father¡£'



'But£»¡¡sir£»¡¡if¡¡this¡¡be¡¡true£»'¡¡out¡¡came¡¡Van¡¡Tromp¡¡in¡¡a¡¡new¡¡key£»

'it¡¡is¡¡I¡¡who¡¡have¡¡an¡¡explanation¡¡to¡¡demand£¿'



'Precisely¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡is¡¡the¡¡conspiracy£»'¡¡retorted¡¡Naseby¡£

'Oh£¡'¡¡he¡¡added£»¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡through

and¡¡through¡¡you¡£'



Van¡¡Tromp¡¡began¡¡to¡¡understand¡£



'You¡¡speak¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡about¡¡being¡¡a¡¡father£»¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Naseby£»'

said¡¡he£»¡¡'I¡¡believe¡¡you¡¡forget¡¡that¡¡the¡¡appellation¡¡is¡¡common

to¡¡both¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡at¡¡a¡¡loss¡¡to¡¡figure¡¡to¡¡myself£»¡¡howeve

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