'Maud, how shall I recover this? The vulgar _villain_--the _fool_! What an
abyss were we approaching! and for me the last hope gone--and for me utter,
utter, irretrievable ruin.'
He was passing his fingers tremulously back and forward along the top of
the mantelpiece, like a man in search of something, and continued so,
looking along it, feebly and vacantly, although there was nothing there.
'I wish, uncle--you do not know how much I wish--I could be of any use to
you. Maybe I can?'
He turned, and looked at me sharply.
'Maybe you can,' he echoed slowly. 'Yes, maybe you can,' he repeated more
briskly.' Let us--let us see--let us think--that d---- fellow!--my head!'
'You're not well, uncle?'
'Oh! yes, very well. We'll talk in the evening--I'll send for you.'
I found Wyat in the next room, and told her to hasten, as I thought he was
ill. I hope it was not very selfish, but such had grown to be my horror of
seeing him in one of his strange seizures, that I hastened from the room
precipitately--partly to escape the risk of being asked to remain.
The walls of Bartram House are thick, and the recess at the doorway deep.
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