Chapter XV

The day after Mr Glowry's departure was one of incessant rain, and

Scythrop repented of the promise he had given. The next day was one of

bright sunshine: he sat on the terrace, read a tragedy of Sophocles,

and was not sorry, when Raven announced dinner, to find himself alive.

On the third evening, the wind blew, and the rain beat, and the owl

flapped against his windows; and he put a new flint in his pistol. On

the fourth day, the sun shone again; and he locked the pistol up in a

drawer, where he left it undisturbed, till the morning of the eventful

Thursday, when he ascended the turret with a telescope, and spied

anxiously along the road that crossed the fens from Claydyke: but

nothing appeared on it. He watched in this manner from ten A.M. till

Raven summoned him to dinner at five; when he stationed Crow at the

telescope, and descended to his own funeral-feast. He left open the

communications between the tower and turret, and called aloud at

intervals to Crow,--'Crow, Crow, is any thing coming?' Crow answered,

'The wind blows, and the windmills turn, but I see nothing coming;'

and, at every answer, Scythrop found the necessity of raising his

spirits with a bumper. After dinner, he gave Raven his watch to set by

the abbey clock. Raven brought it, Scythrop placed it on the table,

and Raven departed. Scythrop called again to Crow; and Crow, who had

fallen asleep, answered mechanically, 'I see nothing coming.' Scythrop

laid his pistol between his watch and his bottle. The hour-hand passed

the VII.--the minute-hand moved on;--it was within three minutes of

the appointed time. Scythrop called again to Crow: Crow answered as

before. Scythrop rang the bell: Raven appeared.

'Raven,' said Scythrop, 'the clock is too fast.'

'No, indeed,' said Raven, who knew nothing of Scythrop's intentions;

'if any thing, it is too slow.'

'Villain!' said Scythrop, pointing the pistol at him; 'it is too

fast.'

'Yes--yes--too fast, I meant,' said Raven, in manifest fear.

'How much too fast?' said Scythrop.

'As much as you please,' said Raven.

'How much, I say?' said Scythrop, pointing the pistol again.

'An hour, a full hour, sir,' said the terrified butler.

'Put back my watch,' said Scythrop.

Raven, with trembling hand, was putting back the watch, when the

rattle of wheels was heard in the court; and Scythrop, springing down

the stairs by three steps together, was at the door in sufficient time

to have handed either of the young ladies from the carriage, if she

had happened to be in it; but Mr Glowry was alone.

'I rejoice to see you,' said Mr Glowry; 'I was fearful of being too

late, for I waited till the last moment in the hope of accomplishing

my promise; but all my endeavours have been vain, as these letters

will show.'

Scythrop impatiently broke the seals. The contents were these:

Almost a stranger in England, I fled from parental tyranny,

and the dread of an arbitrary marriage, to the protection of a

stranger and a philosopher, whom I expected to find something

better than, or at least something different from, the rest of his

worthless species. Could I, after what has occurred, have

expected nothing more from you than the common-place impertinence

of sending your father to treat with me, and with mine, for me? I

should be a little moved in your favour, if I could believe you

capable of carrying into effect the resolutions which your father

says you have taken, in the event of my proving inflexible;

though I doubt not you will execute them, as far as relates to

the pint of wine, twice over, at least. I wish you much happiness

with Miss O'Carroll. I shall always cherish a grateful

recollection of Nightmare Abbey, for having been the means of

introducing me to a true transcendentalist; and, though he is a

little older than myself, which is all one in Germany, I shall

very soon have the pleasure of subscribing myself

CELINDA FLOSKY

I hope, my dear cousin, that you will not be angry with me,

but that you will always think of me as a sincere friend, who

will always feel interested in your welfare; I am sure you love

Miss Toobad much better than me, and I wish you much happiness

with her. Mr Listless assures me that people do not kill

themselves for love now-a-days, though it is still the fashion to

talk about it. I shall, in a very short time, change my name and

situation, and shall always be happy to see you in Berkeley

Square, when, to the unalterable designation of your affectionate

cousin, I shall subjoin the signature of

MARIONETTA LISTLESS

Scythrop tore both the letters to atoms, and railed in good set terms

against the fickleness of women.

'Calm yourself, my dear Scythrop,' said Mr Glowry; 'there are yet

maidens in England.'

'Very true, sir,' said Scythrop.

'And the next time,' said Mr Glowry, 'have but one string to your

bow.'

'Very good advice, sir,' said Scythrop.

'And, besides,' said Mr Glowry, 'the fatal time is past, for it is now

almost eight.'

'Then that villain, Raven,' said Scythrop, 'deceived me when he said

that the clock was too fast; but, as you observe very justly, the time

has gone by, and I have just reflected that these repeated crosses in

love qualify me to take a very advanced degree in misanthropy; and

there is, therefore, good hope that I may make a figure in the world.

But I shall ring for the rascal Raven, and admonish him.'

Raven appeared. Scythrop looked at him very fiercely two or three

minutes; and Raven, still remembering the pistol, stood quaking in

mute apprehension, till Scythrop, pointing significantly towards the

dining-room, said, 'Bring some Madeira.'

THE END

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