On the evening of my return, before it was possible for me to receive

my promised letter, I was surprised by a visit from Mr. Ablewhite the

elder, and was informed that Mr. Godfrey had got his dismissal--AND HAD

ACCEPTED IT--that very day.

With the view I already took of the case, the bare fact stated in the

words that I have underlined, revealed Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite's motive

for submission as plainly as if he had acknowledged it himself. He

needed a large sum of money; and he needed it by a given time. Rachel's

income, which would have helped him to anything else, would not help him

here; and Rachel had accordingly released herself, without encountering

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a moment's serious opposition on his part. If I am told that this is a

mere speculation, I ask, in my turn, what other theory will account for

his giving up a marriage which would have maintained him in splendour

for the rest of his life?

Any exultation I might otherwise have felt at the lucky turn which

things had now taken, was effectually checked by what passed at my

interview with old Mr. Ablewhite.

He came, of course, to know whether I could give him any explanation of

Miss Verinder's extraordinary conduct. It is needless to say that I

was quite unable to afford him the information he wanted. The annoyance

which I thus inflicted, following on the irritation produced by a recent

interview with his son, threw Mr. Ablewhite off his guard. Both his

looks and his language convinced me that Miss Verinder would find him

a merciless man to deal with, when he joined the ladies at Brighton the

next day.

I had a restless night, considering what I ought to do next. How my

reflections ended, and how thoroughly well founded my distrust of Mr.

Ablewhite proved to be, are items of information which (as I am told)

have already been put tidily in their proper places, by that

exemplary person, Miss Clack. I have only to add--in completion of her

narrative--that Miss Verinder found the quiet and repose which she sadly

needed, poor thing, in my house at Hampstead. She honoured us by making

a long stay. My wife and daughters were charmed with her; and, when the

executors decided on the appointment of a new guardian, I feel sincere

pride and pleasure in recording that my guest and my family parted like

old friends, on either side.




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