Jezebels Daughter | Page 7

the moment, the lawyer's objections
seemed to annoy her. She addressed herself to Mr. Hartrey; asking
rather abruptly what he had to say to her.
Our head-clerk was a methodical gentleman of the old school. He
began by confusedly apologizing for his intrusion; and ended by
producing a letter.
"When you are able to attend to business, madam, honor me by reading
this letter. And, in the meantime, will you forgive me for taking a
liberty in the office, rather than intrude on your grief so soon after the
death of my dear and honored master?" The phrases were formal
enough; but there was true feeling in the man's voice as he spoke. My
aunt gave him her hand. He kissed it, with the tears in his eyes.
"Whatever you have done has been well done, I am sure," she said
kindly. "Who is the letter from?"
"From Mr. Keller, of Frankfort, madam."
My aunt instantly took the letter from him, and read it attentively. It has
a very serious bearing on passages in the present narrative which are
yet to come. I accordingly present a copy of it in this place:
"Private and confidential.
"Dear Mr. Hartrey,--It is impossible for me to address myself to Mrs.
Wagner, in the first days of the affliction that has fallen on her. I am
troubled by a pressing anxiety; and I venture to write to you, as the
person now in charge at our London office.
"My only son Fritz is finishing his education at the university of
Wurzburg. He has, I regret to say, formed an attachment to a young
woman, the daughter of a doctor at Wurzburg, who has recently died. I
believe the girl to be a perfectly reputable and virtuous young person.
But her father has not only left her in poverty, he has done worse--he
has died in debt. Besides this, her mother's character does not stand
high in the town. It is said, among other things, that her extravagance is

mainly answerable for her late husband's debts. Under these
circumstances, I wish to break off the connection while the two young
people are separated for the time by the event of the doctor's recent
death. Fritz has given up the idea of entering the medical profession,
and has accepted my proposal that he shall succeed me in our business.
I have decided on sending him to London, to learn something of
commercial affairs, at headquarters, in your office.
"My son obeys me reluctantly; but he is a good and dutiful lad--and he
yields to his father's wishes. You may expect him in a day or two after
receipt of these lines. Oblige me by making a little opening for him in
one of your official departments, and by keeping him as much as
possible under your own eye, until I can venture on communicating
directly with Mrs. Wagner--to whom pray convey the expression of my
most sincere and respectful sympathy."
My aunt handed back the letter. "Has the young man arrived yet?" she
asked.
"He arrived yesterday, madam."
"And have you found some employment for him?"
"I have ventured to place him in our corresponding department, the
head-clerk answered. "For the present he will assist in copying letters;
and, after business-hours, he will have a room (until further orders) in
my house. I hope you think I have done right, madam?"
"You have done admirably, Mr. Hartrey. At the same time, I will
relieve you of some of the responsibility. No grief of mine shall
interfere with my duty to my husband's partner. I will speak to the
young man myself. Bring him here this evening, after business-hours.
And don't leave us just yet; I want to put a question to you relating to
my husband's affairs, in which I am deeply interested." Mr. Hartrey
returned to his chair. After a momentary hesitation, my aunt put her
question in terms which took us all three by surprise.
CHAPTER III

"My husband was connected with many charitable institutions," the
widow began. "Am I right in believing that he was one of the governors
of Bethlehem Hospital?"
At this reference to the famous asylum for insane persons, popularly
known among the inhabitants of London as "Bedlam," I saw the lawyer
start, and exchange a look with the head-clerk. Mr. Hartrey answered
with evident reluctance; he said, "Quite right, madam"--and said no
more. The lawyer, being the bolder man of the two, added a word of
warning, addressed directly to my aunt.
"I venture to suggest," he said, "that there are circumstances connected
with the late Mr. Wagner's position at the Hospital, which make it
desirable not to pursue the subject any farther. Mr. Hartrey will confirm
what I say, when I tell you that Mr. Wagner's proposals for a
reformation