Thomas Wilkinson Speight

“ Our furniture will not fill half of these large rooms.”
“Not too large for the heiress to the Pinchbeck estates,” said the captain, with an extensive sweep of the arm and and of his grey moustache. “Besides, Carry, I never could bear to live in those pottering little holes where common people contrive somehow or other to exist. Spacious and lofty rooms are one of the necessities of life to a gentleman. ”

“ But day after day passed without much visible change in the captain’s condition. He remained too weak to rise, and lay there—a feeble wreck of a man—heedless, for the most part, of what was passing around; buried in his own sad reflections, and, perhaps, discerning dimly the dark issue whither he was tending. Now and always he was very anxious about his box of papers, and had it placed close to his bed, so that he could both see and feel it ”

“ They sat up talking far into the night; after which, Parish prepared a shakedown for Harry before the kitchen fire, and then bade him good night.
Welford’s presence there was a glad surprise next morning both to Carry and her father, for he was dear to both. He was the son of Captain Luard’s oldest friend; and when that friend died, a poor man, the captain took the lad home, educated him, and, when he was old enough, in accordance with Harry’s own wish, obtained for him a situation with an eminent mercantile firm abroad. Carry and he had grown up together like brother and sister ”

“ It was not that he had any want of confidence in the discretion either of Carry or of Parish, but it was a matter that he would have preferred looking after himself: women are so easily imposed upon, as he often remarked. ”

“ In fact, you ought to feel highly gratified, for when you next write home to your friends, you may say with truth that you have had an advantageous offer of marriage, but that you didn’t choose to accept it. ”

“ And now tell me how the captain and Carry both are. I have heard no news of them for an age.”
“Before I answer your question,” said Parish, “tell me how you found us out. The captain thinks we are concealed from all the world.”
“Oh, that’s a very simple matter,” replied Welford. “On landing from the vessel I found a note from Captain Luard, dated only two days ago, informing me of his change of residence. ”

“ How could you distinguish his studs from the place where you were standing?”
“Mistaken, girl! A man is never mistaken in the person of his bitterest enemy. What nonsense you talk! I tell you that I saw him—nay, he is probably there still. ”