The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

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A Strange Revenge. 581
inside, he threw himself into a chair with an ejaculatory
*' Good Heavens," and proceeded to read the following
remarkable (and undated) epistle :
" Dear Sir,—When this reaches your hands, my
daughter and I will have travelled many miles on the mail
coach en route for our first destination, which is EdinburGjh.
Seeing you h-^ve not, in accordance with our compact,
visited the Hall for more than a week, our departure must
appear sudden, if not altogether inexplicable ;
but
it is both
consistent with my business engagements in the first placet
and in the second place with my humane instincts and
principles.
•'I need-scarcely recapitulate what has transpired between
us. You made me an offer for my beloved daughter's
hand, and I pointed out to you, carefully, and, I hope, with
due emphasis, the wrong, provided I sanctioned your
advances, that would be inflicted upon a certain lady to
whom you have the good fortune, or, as you say, the
misfortune, to be engaged. At the same time, I impressed
upon you confidentially— I say, confidentially—that the
remedy lay in your own hands, in the shape of that powder,
valuable as rubies, I entrusted to your care. Towards
nobody else would I have shewn that consideration and
generosity I have extended to you.
" Your happiness is at your own disposal ; do not
hastily decide it ; so far, your delay shews a spirit of
wisdom that commends you.
" My daughter and I considered—also having regard to
business, as I said before— that in the circumstances we
should depart, at least for a time, and so leave you entirely
uninfluenced in deciding whether, by fulfilling my condi-
tions, you will qualify yourself to again solicit the honour
of her hand. In other words, sir, you are thrown upon
your own responsibility, plus the assurances already and
orally given, that by the fulfilment of these conditions
your unfortunate lad}/—unfortunate, that is, in not being
able to retain your affections
ivill never love you again.