Charlotte Smith

“ Paunceford, who felt not the least inclination to go himself, where the burning beams and melting lead might hazard his own person, for which he had the tenderest respect, contented himself with protesting against the rashness of Lord Aurevalle, and detaining by force the other boys over whom, as they were younger, he could exert more decided authority. ”

“ Miss Milsington, who had not undrest, but had her night-cap and dressing-gown on, obeyed, as soon as possible, this alarming summons. The person who had given it was already gone. No light appeared either in the gallery into which her dressing-room opened, or in the arched passage which led to the back stairs communicating with the bed-chambers on this side of the house; but Miss Milsington fancied she smelt fire. She was not one of those nervous ladies who, on the slightest alarm lose their presence of mind. ”

“ This man, who was now a valet out of livery, and looked rather more like a gentleman than his master, was often employed in the infamous office of discovering rustic beauty, united with unsuspecting simplicity; and of betraying unfortunate girls into the hands of his employer, who had occasionally been heard to boast, that he had seduced more young women, and left them upon the town, than any man of his time. His agent, whose name was Strugnel, in prowling about the villages, had met Angelina in that she now inhabited, coming out of a little shop. ”

“ Determined however to wait for the most perfect confirmation of his suspicions, he let another day pass before he made his solemn appeal to Lord Aberdore, and gave him information of his discovery; but in the mean time set himself to watch D'Alonville with more assiduity than before.
Brymore, with no other qualifications than boundless impudence, a fluent way of talking, and a total want of feeling; without any pretensions to principle and humanity, set up for the Lovelace of the present day ”

“ Paunceford—I see a great deal to admire in you sagacity; but I cannot, whatever may be my respect for your talents that way, venture to charge a person with crimes of so dark a nature, unless quite sure of his guilt. ”

“ Denzil, to visit Aberlynth, while he might be missed by the family at Rock-March; but as he did not always sup with them, and the young men were now entering more regularly on that course of life they were to follow when Lord Aberdore had left them, he continued to be dismissed by Lord Aurevalle, to whom alone he referred himself, at an early our of the evening, when he hastened to pass the rest of it at "the Cottage of the Cliffs." He observed, though without giving himself the trouble to enquire into the cause, that Mr. Paunceford was more than usually constrained in his manner ”

“ Paunceford," said Lord Aberdore, as he entered, "nothing is wrong, I hope, in regard to Aurevalle, or the rest?"
"No, my Lord, nothing in regard to my Lord Aurevalle, or to the Mr. Viponts no youths can give more early promise of emulating, my Lord, your Lordship's eminent virtues. Born to aspire to the important characters of British legislators, they do indeed give hope of—."
"Well, well," said Lord Aurevalle, coldly, "all this is very well. Excuse me, Mr. Paunceford, I have really hardly a moment to spare this evening ”

“ Every hour that passed, and every look of D'Alonville's served to strengthen these suspicions; for it is not only to the doubting lover, that,
"Trifles light as air,: "Are to the jealous, confirmation strong, as proofs of holy
"writ."
Paunceford, like Scrub, began at length to be perfectly sure "there was a plot," and nearly for the same reasons as that sagacious politician ”

“ Escott may easily find acquaintance which would undoubtedly, and very properly too, be declined by Lady Aberdore." The conversation was then suffered to drop; and the young men soon after retiring from table, D'Alonville was released from a situation which he could not have supported much longer. He hastened up stairs, while Brymore sallied forth on an expedition, which had D'Alonville suspected, it would have rendered him frantic, and have sent him immediately, and at every risk, to the cottage of Angelina. ”

“ Some of the female servants, whose curiosity had conquered their fear, so as to have induced them to go near the burning building, now returned to say, with great appearance of terror and affright, that the fire gained ground, and in spite of all that could be done, had seized the east wing of the house itself. ”

“ Poor Miss Milsington, who had been obliged to return to the parlour, where she had left the women of the family, could not avoid relating that D'Alonville was not in his room was not to be found!—And Paunceford, who was sure that such a circumstance would operate as the strongest proof that all he had related to Lord Aberdore was true, was in the midst of his triumph, and even hinting in no very doubtful terms that a foreign spy was very likely to be also an incendiary, when Lord Aberdore returned, and checked this charitable exultation, by coldly assuring Mr. ”