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Mysterious Key and What It Opened - Louisa May Alcott · Mysteries of London Vol. II

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  Speaker 1: Chapter one of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened.
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  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
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  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Ashley Jane. The Mysterious
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  Speaker 1: Key and What It Opened by Louisa may Alcott, Chapter one,
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  Speaker 1: The prophecy trevelin lands and trevelin gold. Heir nor heiress
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  Speaker 1: e'er shall hold undisturbed till spite of rust, truth is
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  Speaker 1: found in trevelin dust. This is the third time I
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  Speaker 1: found you poring over that old rhyme. What is the charm, Richard?
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  Speaker 1: Not its poetry? I fancy? And the young wife laid
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  Speaker 1: a slender hand on the yellow, time worn page, while
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  Speaker 1: an old English text appeared the lines. She laughed at.
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  Speaker 1: Richard Trevlin looked up the smile and threw by the book,
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  Speaker 1: as if annoyed at being discovered reading it. Drawing his
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  Speaker 1: wife's hand through his own, he led her back to
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  Speaker 1: her couch, folded the soft shore about her, and sitting
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  Speaker 1: in a low chair beside her, said, in a cheerful tone,
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  Speaker 1: though his eyes betrayed some hidden care, my love. That
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  Speaker 1: book is a history of our family for centries, and
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  Speaker 1: that old prophecy has never yet been fulfilled except the
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  Speaker 1: air and arrest line. I am the last Trevelin, and
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  Speaker 1: as the time draws near when my child shall be born,
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  Speaker 1: I naturally think of his future and hope he will
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  Speaker 1: enjoy his heritage in peace. God grant it, softly, echoed
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  Speaker 1: Lady Trevelin, adding with a look askance at the old book.
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  Speaker 1: I read that history once in fancis it must be
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  Speaker 1: a romance. Such dreadful things are recorded in it. Is
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  Speaker 1: it all true, Richard? Yes, dear, I wish it was not.
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  Speaker 1: Ours has been a wild, unhappy race till the last
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  Speaker 1: generation or two. The stormy nature came in with old
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  Speaker 1: Sir Ralph, the fierce Norman knight, who killed his only
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  Speaker 1: son in a fit of wrath by a blow with
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  Speaker 1: a steel gauntlet, because the boy's strong will would not
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  Speaker 1: yield to his Yes, I remember, and his daughter Glatilde
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  Speaker 1: held the castle drawing a siege and married her cousin,
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  Speaker 1: Count Hugo. Tis a warlike race, and I like it.
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  Speaker 1: In spite of the mad deeds, married her cousin. That
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  Speaker 1: has been the bane of our family in times past,
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  Speaker 1: being too proud to mate elsewhere, we have kept ourselves
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  Speaker 1: till idiots and lunatics begin to appear. My father was
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  Speaker 1: the first who broke the law among us, and I
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  Speaker 1: followed his example, choosing the freshest, sturdiest flower I could
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  Speaker 1: find a transplant into our exhausted stil. I hope it
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  Speaker 1: will do you honor by blossoming bravely. I never forget
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  Speaker 1: that you took me from a very humble home and
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  Speaker 1: made me the happiest wife in England. No, never forget
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  Speaker 1: you a child of eighteen consented to leave your hills
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  Speaker 1: and come to cheer the long deserted house of an
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  Speaker 1: old man like me, returned her husband fondly. Nay, don't
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  Speaker 1: call yourself old, Richard. You are only forty five, the boldest,
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  Speaker 1: handsomest man in Warwickshire. But lately you look worried. What
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  Speaker 1: is it? Tell me and let me advise or comfort you.
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  Speaker 1: It is nothing, Alice, except my natural anxiety for you, Well, Kingston,
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  Speaker 1: what do you want? Trevelin's tender tones grew sharp as
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  Speaker 1: he addressed the entering servant, and the smile on his
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  Speaker 1: lips vanished, leaving him dry and wide as he glanced
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  Speaker 1: at the card he handed him an instant He stood
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  Speaker 1: staring at it, then asked, is a man here in
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  Speaker 1: the livery sir, I'll come, flinging the card into the fire,
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  Speaker 1: he watched it turn to ashes before he spoke with
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  Speaker 1: averted eyes only some annoying business. Love, I shall be
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  Speaker 1: with you again, Lie and rest till I come with
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  Speaker 1: a hasty caress. He left her, but as he passed
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  Speaker 1: a mirror, his wife saw an expression of intense excitement
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  Speaker 1: in his face. She said nothing and lay motionless for
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  Speaker 1: several minutes, evidently struggling with some strong impulse. He's ill
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  Speaker 1: and anxious, but he hides it from me. I have
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  Speaker 1: a right to know, and he of forgive me when
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  Speaker 1: I prove that it does no harm. As she spoke
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  Speaker 1: to herself, she rose, glided noiselessly through the hall, entered
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  Speaker 1: a small closet built in the thickness of the wall,
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  Speaker 1: and bending the keyhole of a narrow door, listened with
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  Speaker 1: a half smile on her lips at the trespass she
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  Speaker 1: was committing. A murmur of voices met her ear. Her
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  Speaker 1: husband spoke oftnessed, and suddenly some word of his dashed
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  Speaker 1: to smile off her face as if with a blow.
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  Speaker 1: She started shrank and shivered, bending lower with set teeth,
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  Speaker 1: white cheeks, and panic stricken heart paler and paler grew
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  Speaker 1: her lips wilder and wilder, her eyes fainter and fainter,
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  Speaker 1: her breath till. With a long sigh, a vain effort
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  Speaker 1: to save herself, she sank prone upon the threshold of
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  Speaker 1: the door, as if struck down by death. Mercy on us,
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  Speaker 1: my lady, are you ill? Cried Hester, the maid, as
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  Speaker 1: her mistress glided into the room, looking like a ghost.
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  Speaker 1: Half an hour later, I am faint and cold. Help
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  Speaker 1: me to my bed, and do not disturb Sir Richard.
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  Speaker 1: A shiver crept over her as she spoke, and cast
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  Speaker 1: and a wild, woeful look about her. She laid her
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  Speaker 1: head upon the pillow like one who never cared to
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  Speaker 1: lift it up again. Hester, a sharp eyed, middle aged woman,
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  Speaker 1: watched the pale creature for a moment, then left the room,
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  Speaker 1: muttering something is wrong and Sir Richard must know it.
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  Speaker 1: A black bearded man came for no good. I'll warrant
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  Speaker 1: at the door of the library, she paused. No sound
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  Speaker 1: of voices came from within the stifled groan was all
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  Speaker 1: she had, and without waiting to knock, she went in,
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  Speaker 1: fearing she knew not what. Sir Richard sat at his
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  Speaker 1: writing table or pen in hand, but his face was
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  Speaker 1: hidden on his arm, and his whole attitude betrayed the
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  Speaker 1: presence of some overwhelming despair. Please, sir, my lady is ill?
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  Speaker 1: Shall I send for any one? No answer? Hester repeated
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  Speaker 1: her words, but Sir Richard never stirred. Much Alarmed, the
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  Speaker 1: old woman raised his head, saw that he was unconscious,
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  Speaker 1: and rang for help. But Richard Trevlin was past help.
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  Speaker 1: Though he lingered for some hours, he spoke, but once,
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  Speaker 1: murmuring faintly, will Alice come to say good bye? Bring
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  Speaker 1: her if she can come, said the physician. Hester went
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  Speaker 1: found her mistress lying as she left her, like a
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  Speaker 1: figure carved in stone. When she gave the message, Lady
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  Speaker 1: Trevelin answered, suddenly, tell him I will not come, and
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  Speaker 1: turned her face to the wall with an expression which
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  Speaker 1: daunted the woman too much for another word. Hester whispered
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  Speaker 1: the hard answer to the physician, fearing to utter it aloud,
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  Speaker 1: for Sir Richard heard it and died with a despairing
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  Speaker 1: prayer for pardon on his lips. One day dawned, Sir
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  Speaker 1: Richard lay in his shroud and his little daughter in
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  Speaker 1: her cradle, the one unwept, the other unwelcomed By the
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  Speaker 1: wife and mother, who twelve hours before had called herself
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  Speaker 1: the happiest woman in England. They thought her dying, and
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  Speaker 1: at her own command, gave her the sealed letter bearing
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  Speaker 1: her address, which her husband left behind him. She read it,
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  Speaker 1: laid it in her bosom, and, waking from the trance
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  Speaker 1: which seemed so strongly chilled and changed her, besought those
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  Speaker 1: about her with passionate earnestness to save her life. For
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  Speaker 1: two days she hovered on the brink of the grave,
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  Speaker 1: and nothing but the indomitable will to live saved her,
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  Speaker 1: the doctors said. On the third day she rallied wonderfully,
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  Speaker 1: and some purpose seemed to give her with unnatural strength.
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  Speaker 1: Evening came and the house was very still, for all
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  Speaker 1: the sad bustle of preparation for Sir Richard's funeral was over,
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  Speaker 1: and he lay for the last night under his own roof.
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  Speaker 1: Hester sat in the darkened chamber of her mistress, and
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  Speaker 1: no sound broke the hush but the low lullaby the
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  Speaker 1: nurse was singing to the fatherless baby in the adjoining room.
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  Speaker 1: Lady Trevelin seemed to sleep as suddenly put back the curtain, saying, abruptly,
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  Speaker 1: why does he lie in the state chamber? My lady
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  Speaker 1: replied Hester, anxiously, watching the farvish glitter of her mistress's eye,
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  Speaker 1: the flush on her cheek, and the unnatural calmness of
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  Speaker 1: her manner. Help me go there, I must see him.
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  Speaker 1: It would be your death, my lady. I beseech you
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  Speaker 1: don't think of it, began the woman, but Lady Trevelin
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  Speaker 1: seemed not to hear her, and something in the stern
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  Speaker 1: pallor of her face ORed the woman into submission. Wrapping
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  Speaker 1: the slight form of her mistress in a warm cloak,
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  Speaker 1: Hester half led, half carried her to the stateroom and
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  Speaker 1: left her on the threshold. I must come and alone,
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  Speaker 1: fear nothing, but wait for me here, she said, and
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  Speaker 1: closed the door behind her. Five minutes had not elapsed
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  Speaker 1: when she reappeared, with no sign of grief on her
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  Speaker 1: rigid face. Take me to my bed and bring me
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  Speaker 1: my jewel box, she said, with a shuddering sigh, as
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  Speaker 1: a faithful servant received her with an exclamation of thankfulness.
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  Speaker 1: When her orders had been obeyed, she drew from her
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  Speaker 1: bosom the portrait of Sir Richard, which she always wore,
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  Speaker 1: and removing the ivory oval from the gold case, she
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  Speaker 1: locked the former in a tiny drawer of the casket,
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  Speaker 1: replaced her empty locket in her breast, and bade Hester
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  Speaker 1: give the jewels to Watson, her lawyer, who would see
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  Speaker 1: them put in a safe place till the child was grown.
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  Speaker 1: Dear heart, my lady, you'll wear them yet, for your
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  Speaker 1: far too young to grieve all your days, even for
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  Speaker 1: so good a man as my blessed master. Take comfort
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  Speaker 1: and cheer up for the dear child's sake. If no more,
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  Speaker 1: I shall never wear them again, was all the answers.
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  Speaker 1: Lady Trevelin drew the curtains as if to shut out hope.
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  Speaker 1: Sir Richard was buried, and the nine days got itp
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  Speaker 1: over the mystery of his death. Died for want of food.
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  Speaker 1: For the only person who could have explained it was
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  Speaker 1: in a state which forbade all allusion to that tragic day.
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  Speaker 1: For a year later. Lady Trevelin's reason was in danger.
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  Speaker 1: A long fever left her so weak in mind and
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  Speaker 1: body that there was little hope of recovery, and her
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  Speaker 1: days were passed in a state of apathy. Sad to witness,
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  Speaker 1: she seemed to have forgotten everything, even the shock which
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  Speaker 1: had so sorely stricken her. The sight of her child
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  Speaker 1: failed to rouse her, and month after month slipped by,
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  Speaker 1: leaving no trace of their passage on her mind, for
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  Speaker 1: slightly renovating her feeble body. Who the stranger was, what
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  Speaker 1: his aim in coming, or why he never reappeared. No
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  Speaker 1: one discovered. The intents of the letter left by Sir
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  Speaker 1: Richard were unknown, for the paper had been destroyed by
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  Speaker 1: Lady Trevlin, and no clue could be got from her.
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  Speaker 1: Sir Richard had died of heart disease, the physicians said,
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  Speaker 1: though he might have lived years had no sudden shock
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  Speaker 1: assailed him. There were few relatives to make investigations, and
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  Speaker 1: friends soon forgot the sad young widow. So the years
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  Speaker 1: rolled on, and Lillian the Heiress grew from infancy to
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  Speaker 1: childhood in the shadows of this mystery. End of chapter
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  Speaker 1: one recording by Ashley Jane. Chapter two of The Mysterious
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  Speaker 1: Key and What It Opened by Louisa may Alcott. This
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter two, Paul,
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  Speaker 1: come child, the jew is falling, and his time he
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  Speaker 1: went in. No, no, Murmory is not rested yet, So
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  Speaker 1: I may run down to the spring if I like.
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  Speaker 1: And Lilian, as wilful as windsor, vanished along the tall ferns,
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  Speaker 1: where a deer crouched and rabbits hid. Hester leisurely followed,
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  Speaker 1: looking as unchanged as if a day instead of twelve
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  Speaker 1: years had passed since her arms received the little mistress,
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  Speaker 1: who now ruled her like a tyrant. She had taken
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  Speaker 1: but a few steps when a child came flying back,
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  Speaker 1: exclaiming in an excited tone, Oh, come quick, there's a
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  Speaker 1: man there, A dead man. I saw him, an unfrightened,
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  Speaker 1: nonsense child. It's one of the keepers asleep, or some
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  Speaker 1: stroller who has no business here. Take my hand and
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  Speaker 1: we'll see who he is. Somewhat reassured, Lilian led her
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  Speaker 1: nurse to one of the old oaks beside the path
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  Speaker 1: and pointed to a figure lying half hidden in the fern.
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  Speaker 1: A slender, swarthy boy of sixteen with curly black hair,
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  Speaker 1: dark brows and thick lashes, a singularly stern mouth, and
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  Speaker 1: a general expression of strength and pride, which added character
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  Speaker 1: to his boyish face, had dignified his poverty. His dress
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  Speaker 1: betrayed that, being dusty and threadbare, his shoes much worn,
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  Speaker 1: and his possessions contained in the little bundle on which
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  Speaker 1: he pillowed his head. He was sleeping like one quite
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  Speaker 1: spent with wariness, and never stirred, though Hester bent away
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  Speaker 1: the ferns and examined him closely. He's not dead, my dearie.
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  Speaker 1: He's asleep, poor lad, worn out with his day's tramp.
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  Speaker 1: I dare say, I'm glad he's alive, and I wish
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  Speaker 1: he'd wake up. He's a pretty boy, isn't he. See
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  Speaker 1: what nice hands he's got, and his hair is more
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  Speaker 1: curly than mine. Make him open his eyes, Hester commanded
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  Speaker 1: the little lady, whose fear had given place to interest. Hush,
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  Speaker 1: he's stirring. I wonder how he got in and what
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  Speaker 1: he wants, whispered Hester, I'll ask him, And before her
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  Speaker 1: nurse could arrest her, Lilian drew a tall fern softly
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  Speaker 1: over the sleeper's face, laughing aloud as she did so.
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  Speaker 1: The boy woke at the sound, and, without stirring, lay
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  Speaker 1: looking up at the lovely little face bent over him,
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  Speaker 1: as if still in a dream. Bellacarra, he said, in
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  Speaker 1: a musical voice. Then, as the child drew back, bashed
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  Speaker 1: at the glance of his large, bright eyes, he seemed
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  Speaker 1: to wake entirely, and, springing to his feet, looked at
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  Speaker 1: Hester with a quick searching glance. Something in his face
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  Speaker 1: and air caused the woman to soften her tone a little,
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  Speaker 1: and she said gravely, did you wish to see any
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  Speaker 1: one at the hall? Yes, is, Lady Trevlyn. Here was
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  Speaker 1: the boy's answer, as he stood cap in hand, with
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  Speaker 1: a smile fading already from his face. She is, But
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  Speaker 1: unless your business is very urgent, you'd better see Parks
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  Speaker 1: a keeper. We don't trouble my lady with trifles. I've
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  Speaker 1: a note for her from Colonel Daventry, and it is
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  Speaker 1: not a trifle. I'll deliver it myself if you please.
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  Speaker 1: Hester hesitated an instant, but Lilian cried out, murmur, is
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  Speaker 1: close by, come and see her, and led the way,
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  Speaker 1: beckoning as she ran. The lad followed with a composed air,
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  Speaker 1: and Hester brought up the rear, taking notes as she
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  Speaker 1: went with a woman's keen eye. Lady Trevlyn a beautiful,
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  Speaker 1: pale water, delicate in health and melancholy in spirit, sat
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  Speaker 1: on a rustic seat with a book in her hand,
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  Speaker 1: not reading but musing with an absent mind. As a
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  Speaker 1: child approached, she held out her hand to welcome her,
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  Speaker 1: but neither smiled nor spoke. Mamma, here is a a
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  Speaker 1: person to see you, cried Lilian, rather at a loss
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  Speaker 1: how to designate the stranger whose height and gravity now
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  Speaker 1: order her a note from Colonel Daventry, my lady, and
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  Speaker 1: with a bow, the boy delivered the missive. Scarcely glancing
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  Speaker 1: at him, she opened it and read, my dear friend,
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  Speaker 1: the bearer of this Paul Jex, has been with me
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  Speaker 1: some months and has served me well. I brought him
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  Speaker 1: from Paris, but he is English born, and, though friendless,
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  Speaker 1: prefers to remain here even after we leave, as we
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  Speaker 1: do in a week. When I last saw you, you
• 14:49
  Speaker 1: mentioned wanting a lad to help in the garden. Paul
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  Speaker 1: is accustomed to that employment. Though my wife used him
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: as a sort of page in the house. Hoping you
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  Speaker 1: may be able to give him shelter, I ventured a
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  Speaker 1: send him. He is an honest, capable and trustworthy in
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  Speaker 1: all respects pray try him and oblige yours sincerely, j R. Daventry.
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  Speaker 1: The place is still vacant, and I shall be very
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  Speaker 1: glad to give it to you, if you are inclined
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  Speaker 1: to take it, said Lady Trevelin, lifting her eyes from
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  Speaker 1: the note and scanning the boy's face. I do, madam,
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  Speaker 1: he answered, respectfully. The colonel says you were English, added
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: the lady in a tone of surprise. The boy smiled,
• 15:30
  Speaker 1: showing a faultless set of teeth as he replied, I am,
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: my lady, though just now I may not look it,
• 15:36
  Speaker 1: being much tanned and very dusty. My father was an Englishman,
• 15:39
  Speaker 1: but I lived abroad a good deal since he died
• 15:42
  Speaker 1: and got foreign ways. Perhaps, as he spoke without any
• 15:46
  Speaker 1: accent and looked full in her face with a pair
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  Speaker 1: of honest blue eyes under the dark lashes, Lady Trevlin's
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: momentary doubt vanished your age pool sixteen, my lady, you
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: understand gardening, yes, my lady, And what else? I can
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  Speaker 1: break horses, serve at the table, do errands, read aloud,
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  Speaker 1: ride after a young lady as groom, illuminate on parchment,
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  Speaker 1: train flowers, and make myself useful in any way. The
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  Speaker 1: tone in half modest, half eager, in which the boy spoke,
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  Speaker 1: as well as the odd list of his accomplishments, brought
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  Speaker 1: a smile to Lady Trevelin's lips, and the general air
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  Speaker 1: of the lad prepossessed her. I want Lilian to ride soon,
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  Speaker 1: and Roger is rather old for an escort to such
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  Speaker 1: a little horsewoman. Don't you think we might try, Paul,
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  Speaker 1: she said, turning to Hester. The woman gravely eyed the
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  Speaker 1: lad from head to foot and shook her head, but
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  Speaker 1: an imploring little gesture and a glance of the handsome
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  Speaker 1: eyes softened her heart in spite of herself. Yes, my lady,
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  Speaker 1: if he does well about the place and parks thinks
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  Speaker 1: is steady enough, we might try it. By and by.
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  Speaker 1: Lilian clapped her hands and, drawing nearer, exclaimed confidingly as
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  Speaker 1: she looked up at her new groom. I know he'll do, Mamma.
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  Speaker 1: I like him very much, and I hope you'll let
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  Speaker 1: him train my pony for me, will you, Paul? Yes?
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  Speaker 1: As he spoke very low and hastily, the boy looked
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  Speaker 1: away from the eager little face before him, and a
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  Speaker 1: sudden flush of color crossed his dark cheek. Hester saw it,
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  Speaker 1: and said within herself that boy has good blood in
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  Speaker 1: his veins. He's no clod hopper's son. I can tell
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  Speaker 1: by his hands and feet, his her air and walk.
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  Speaker 1: Poor lad, it's hard for him. I'll warrant, but it's
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  Speaker 1: not too proud for honest work. And I like that.
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  Speaker 1: You may stay, Paul, and we will try you for
• 17:36
  Speaker 1: a month. Hester take him to parks and see that
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  Speaker 1: he is made comfortable. To morrow we will see what
• 17:42
  Speaker 1: he can do. Come, darling, I am rested now. As
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: she spoke, Lady Trevelin dismissed the boy with a gracious
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: gesture and led her little daughter away. Paul stood watching
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: her as if forgetful of his companion, till she said
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: rather tartly, young man, you'd better than my lady while
• 18:01
  Speaker 1: she was here, then stared after her. Now it's too late.
• 18:04
  Speaker 1: If you want to see park, she'd best come for
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: I'm going. Is that the family tomb yonder where you
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: found me asleep? Was an unexpected reply to her speech,
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: as the boy quietly followed her, not at all daunted
• 18:16
  Speaker 1: by her manner. Yes, and that reminds me to ask
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: you how you got in and why you were napping there?
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: Instead of doing your errand properly, I leaped the fence
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: and stopped to rest before presenting myself. Miss Hester was
• 18:28
  Speaker 1: the cool answer, accompanied by a short laugh as he
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: confessed his trespass. You look as if you had had
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: a long walk. Where are you from London? Bless the boy.
• 18:40
  Speaker 1: It's fifty miles away, so my shoes show, but it's
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: a pleasant trip in summer time. Why did you walk? Child?
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: Had you know? Money plenty, but not for wasting on
• 18:51
  Speaker 1: coaches when my own stout legs could carry me. I
• 18:55
  Speaker 1: took a two days holiday and saved my money for
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: better things. I like that, said Hester, with an approving nod.
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: You'll get on, my lad, if that's your way, and
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: I'll lend a hand for laziness is my abomination. And
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: one sees plenty in our days. Thank you. That's friendly,
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: and I'll prove that I'm grateful. Please tell me is
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: my lady ill always delicate? Since Sir Richard died? How
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: long ago was that? Ten years or more? Are there
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: no young gentleman in the family. No, Miss Lilian is
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: an only child and a sweet one. Bless her a
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: proud little lady, I should say, And well, she may be,
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: for there's no better blood in England than the Treblings,
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: as she's heiress to a noble fortune. Is that the
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: trebling coat of arms, asked the boy abruptly, pointing to
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: a stone falcon with the motto Me and Mine carved
• 19:48
  Speaker 1: over the gate through which they were passing. Yes, why
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: do you ask, mere curiosity? I know something of heraldry,
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: and often paint these things in my own pleasure. One
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: learnsdd amusements abroad, he added, seeing an expression of surprise
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: on the woman's face. You'll have little time for such
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: matters here. Come in and report yourself to the keeper,
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: and if you'll take my advice, ask no questions of him,
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: for you'll get no answers. I seldom ask questions of men,
• 20:17
  Speaker 1: as they are not fond of gossip. And the boy
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: nodded with a smile of mischievous significance as he entered
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: the keeper's lodge. A sharp lad and saucy. If he likes,
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: I'll keep my eye on him, for my lady takes
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: no more thought of such things than a child, and
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: Lilian cares for nothing but her own will. He has
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: a taking away with him, though, and knows how to
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: flatter it's well he does, poor lad, for life's hard
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: matter to a friendless soul like him. As she thought
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: these thoughts, Hester went on to the house, leaving Paul
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: to win the good graces of the keeper, which he
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: speedily did by assuming an utterly different manner from that
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: he had worn with a woman. That night, when the
• 20:57
  Speaker 1: boy was alone in his own room, he wrote along
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: left to an Italian describing the events of the day,
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: enclosed a sketch of the falcon and motto, directed it
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: to Father Cosmo Carmela Genoa, and lay down to sleep,
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: muttering with a grim look and a heavy sigh. So far,
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: so well. I'll not let my heart be softened by
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: pity or my purpose changed, till my promise is kept.
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: Pretty child, I wish I had never seen her. End
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: of chapter two. Recording by Ashley Jane. Chapter three of
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: The Mysterious Key and What It Opened. This is a
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
• 21:52
  Speaker 1: The Mysterious Key and What It Opened by the Weezer
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: may Alcot Chapter three, Secret Service in a week, Paul
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: was a favorite with the household. Even prudent Hester felt
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: the charm of his presence, and owned that Lilian was
• 22:07
  Speaker 1: happier for a young companion in her walks. Hitherto, the
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: child had led a solitary life, with no playmates of
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: her own age. Such being the will of my Lady. Therefore,
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: she welcomed Paul as a new and delightful amusement, considering
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: him her private property, and soon transferring his duties from
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: the garden to the house. Satisfied of his merits, my
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: Lady yielded to Lilian's demands, and Paul was installed as
• 22:33
  Speaker 1: page to the young lady. Always respectful and obedient, he
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: never forgot his place, yet seemed unconsciously to influence all
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: who approached him and win the good will of every one.
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: My Lady showed unusual interest in the lad and Lilian
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: openly displayed her admiration for his accomplishments and her affection
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: for her devoted young servitor. Hester was much flattered by
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: the confidence he reposed in her, For to her alone
• 22:59
  Speaker 1: did he tell his story, and of her alone asked
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: advice and comfort in his various small straits. It was
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: as she suspected Paul was a gentleman's son, but misfortune
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: had robbed him of home, friends, and parents, and thrown
• 23:13
  Speaker 1: him upon the world to shift to himself. This sad
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: story touched a woman's heart and the boy's manly spirit
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: one respect. She had lost a son years ago, and
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: her empty heart yearned over The motherless lad. Ashamed confess
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: the tender feeling, she wore her usual severe manner to
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: him in public, but in private softened wonderfully and enjoyed
• 23:34
  Speaker 1: the boy's regard heartily. Paul, come in. I wish to
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: speak with you a moment, said my lady from the
• 23:41
  Speaker 1: long window of the library to the boy, who was
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: training vines outside, dropping his tools and pulling off his hat.
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: Paul obeyed, looking a little anxious for the month of
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: trial expired that day. Lady Trevelin saw and answered the
• 23:57
  Speaker 1: look with a gracious smile. Have no fear. You are
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: to stay if you will, for Lilian is happy and
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: I am satisfied with you. Thank you, my lady, And
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: an odd glance of mingled pride and pain shone in
• 24:09
  Speaker 1: the boy's downcast eyes. That is settled. Then, now let
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: me say what I called you in for you spoke
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: of being able to illuminate on parchment. Can you restore
• 24:20
  Speaker 1: this old book for me? She put into his hand
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: the ancient volume Sir Richard had been reading the day
• 24:26
  Speaker 1: he died. It had lain neglected in a damped nook
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: for years till my lady discovered it, and, sad as
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: it were the associations connected with it, she desired to
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: preserve it for the sake of the weird prophecy, if
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: nothing else. Paul examined it, and as he turned it
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: to and fro in his hands, it opened at the
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: page oftenest read by its late master. His eye kindled
• 24:48
  Speaker 1: as he looked, and with a quick gesture, he turned
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: as if toward the light in truth to hide a
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: flash of triumph that passed across his face. Carefully controlling
• 24:58
  Speaker 1: his voice, he answered in a moment, and he looked
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: up quite composed. Yes, my lady, I can retouch the
• 25:05
  Speaker 1: faded colors on these margins and darken the pale ink
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: of the old English text. I like the wark and
• 25:11
  Speaker 1: will gladly do it if you like do it then,
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: but be very careful of the book while in your hands.
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: Provide what is needful, and name your own price for
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: the work, said his mistress. Nay, my lady, I am
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: already paid, how so, she asked, surprised. Paula had spoken
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: hastily and for an instant looked embarrassed, but answered, with
• 25:34
  Speaker 1: a sudden flush on his dark cheeks. You have been
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: kind to me, and I am glad to show my
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: gratitude in any way. My lady, let that pass, My boy,
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: do this little service for me, and we will see
• 25:46
  Speaker 1: about the recompense afterwards. And with a smile, Lady Trevelin
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: left him to begin his work. The moment the door
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: closed behind her, a total change passed over paul He
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: shook his clenched hand after her with a gesture of menace,
• 26:02
  Speaker 1: then tossed up the old book and caught it with
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: an exclamation of delight as he reopened it at the
• 26:07
  Speaker 1: warm page and re read the inexplicable verse. Another proof,
• 26:12
  Speaker 1: another proof. The work goes bravely on father, Cosmo and
• 26:16
  Speaker 1: boy as I am. I'll keep my word in spite
• 26:18
  Speaker 1: of everything, he muttered. What is it that you'll keep, lad,
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: said a voice behind him. I'll keep my work to
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: my lady and do my best to restore this book.
• 26:29
  Speaker 1: Missus Hester, he answered, quickly, recovering himself. Ah, that's the
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: last book, poor Mauster read. I hid it away, but
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: my lady found it in spite of me, said Hester,
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: with a doleful sigh. Did he die suddenly? Then asked
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: the boy, dear heart, Yes, I found him dying in
• 26:48
  Speaker 1: his room, with the ink scarce dry on the letter
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: he left for my lady. Mysterious business and a sad one.
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: Tell me about it. I like sad stories, and I
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: already feel as if I belonged to the family, a
• 27:00
  Speaker 1: loyal retainer as in the old times. While you does
• 27:03
  Speaker 1: the books and I rub the mold off this old cover.
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: Tell me the tale, please, missus Hester. She shook her head,
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: but yielded to the persuasive look and tone of the boy,
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: telling the story more fully than she intended, for she
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: loved talking and had come to regard Paul as her
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: own almost And the letter, what was in it? Asked
• 27:22
  Speaker 1: the boy, as she paused at the catastrophe. No one
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: ever knew, but my lady she destroyed it, then, I
• 27:31
  Speaker 1: thought so till a long time afterward. One of the
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: lawyers came pestering me with questions and made me ask her.
• 27:37
  Speaker 1: She was ill at the time, but answered with a look,
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: I shall never forget. No, it's not burnt, but no
• 27:42
  Speaker 1: one shall ever see it. I dared ask no more,
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: but I fancy she has it safe somewhere, and if
• 27:49
  Speaker 1: it's ever needed, she'll bring it out. It was only
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: some private matters I fancy. And the stranger, oh, he
• 27:57
  Speaker 1: vanished as oddly as he came, and has never been
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: a strange story. Lad keep silent and let it rest,
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: no fear of my tattling. And the boy smiled curiously
• 28:08
  Speaker 1: to himself as he bent over the book, polishing the
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: brass bound cover. What you doing with that pretty white wax,
• 28:15
  Speaker 1: asked Lilian. The next day, she came upon Paul in
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: a quiet corner of the garden and found him absorbed
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: in some mysterious occupation. With a quick gesture, he destroyed
• 28:26
  Speaker 1: his work, and, banishing a momentary expression of annoyance, he answered,
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: in his accustomed tone as he began to work, anew,
• 28:35
  Speaker 1: I'm molding a little deer for you, miss Lilian. See
• 28:38
  Speaker 1: here is a rabbit already done, and I'll soon have
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: a stag. Also, it's very pretty, how many nice things
• 28:44
  Speaker 1: you can do, and how kind you are to think
• 28:47
  Speaker 1: of my liking something new? Was this wax? What you
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: went to get this morning when you rode away so early,
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: asked the child. Yes, miss Lilian, I was ordered to
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: exercise your pony, and I made him useful. As would
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: you like to try this? It's very easy. Lilian was charmed,
• 29:05
  Speaker 1: and for several days wax modeling was her favorite play.
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: Then she tired of it, and Paul invented a new amusement,
• 29:11
  Speaker 1: smiling his inexplicable smile as he threw away the broken
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: toys of wax. You were getting pale and thin, keeping
• 29:18
  Speaker 1: such late hours, Paul, go to bed, boy, go to
• 29:21
  Speaker 1: bed and get your sleep, early, said Hester, a week afterward,
• 29:24
  Speaker 1: with a motherly air, as Paul passed her one morning,
• 29:28
  Speaker 1: And how do you know I don't go to bed,
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: he asked, wheeling about my lady has been restless lately,
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: and I sit up with her till she sleeps. As
• 29:37
  Speaker 1: I go to my room, I see your lamp burning.
• 29:39
  Speaker 1: And last night I got as far as your door,
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: meaning speak to you, but didn't thinking you'd take it
• 29:44
  Speaker 1: a miss. But really you are the worse for late hours, child.
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: I shall soon finish restoring the book, and then I'll sleep.
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: I hope it don't disturb you. I have to grind
• 29:54
  Speaker 1: my colors and often make more noise than I mean to.
• 29:57
  Speaker 1: Paul fixed his eyes sharply on the woman as he
• 29:59
  Speaker 1: sa spoke, but she seemed unconscious of it, and turned
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: to go on, saying indifferently, Oh, that's the odd sound,
• 30:07
  Speaker 1: is it? Now? It doesn't trouble me, So grind away
• 30:10
  Speaker 1: and make an end of it. As soon as maybe
• 30:12
  Speaker 1: an anxious fold in the boy's forehead smoothed itself away
• 30:16
  Speaker 1: as he left her, saying to himself with a sigh
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: of relief and narrow escape, it's well, I keep the
• 30:22
  Speaker 1: door locked. The boy's light burned no more after that,
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: and Hester was content till a new worry came to
• 30:28
  Speaker 1: trouble her. On her way to her room late one night,
• 30:31
  Speaker 1: she saw a tall shadow flit down one of the
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: side corridors that branched from the main one. For a
• 30:37
  Speaker 1: moment she was startled, but being a woman of courage,
• 30:40
  Speaker 1: she followed noiselessly till their shadows seemed to vanish in
• 30:44
  Speaker 1: the gloom of the great hall. If the house ever
• 30:47
  Speaker 1: owned ghost, I'd say that's it. But it never did, so,
• 30:50
  Speaker 1: I suspect some deviltry. I'll step the pool. He's not
• 30:53
  Speaker 1: a sleep I dare say, he's a brave and a
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: sensible lad. And with him I'll quietly search the house Away.
• 31:00
  Speaker 1: She went more nervous than she would own, and tapped
• 31:03
  Speaker 1: on the boy's door. No one answered, and, seeing that
• 31:06
  Speaker 1: it was ajar, Hester, whisked in so hurriedly till her
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: candle went out. With an impatient exclamation at her carelessness,
• 31:13
  Speaker 1: she glided to the bed, drew the curtain, and put
• 31:16
  Speaker 1: forth her hand to touch the sleeper. The bed was empty.
• 31:20
  Speaker 1: A disagreeable thrill shot through her as she assured herself
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: of the fact by groping along the narrow bed. Standing
• 31:27
  Speaker 1: in the shadow of the curtain, she stared about the
• 31:30
  Speaker 1: dusky room, in which objects were visible by the light
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: of a new moon. Lord, bless me, what is the
• 31:36
  Speaker 1: boy about? I do believe it was him I saw
• 31:39
  Speaker 1: in the She got no farther in her mental exclamation
• 31:42
  Speaker 1: for the sound of light approaching footsteps near her. Slipping
• 31:47
  Speaker 1: around the bed, she waited in the shadow, and the
• 31:49
  Speaker 1: moment after Paul appeared, looking pale and ghostly, with dark
• 31:53
  Speaker 1: disheveled hair, wide open eyes, and a cloak thrown over
• 31:56
  Speaker 1: his shoulders. Without pause, he flung it off, laid himself
• 32:00
  Speaker 1: in bed, and seemed to sleep at once. Pool Pool
• 32:05
  Speaker 1: whispered Hester, shaking him after a pause of astonishment at
• 32:08
  Speaker 1: the whole proceeding, Hey, what is it? And he sat up,
• 32:13
  Speaker 1: looking drowsily about him. Come, come, no tricks boy? What
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: you doing trailing about the house at this hour and
• 32:19
  Speaker 1: in such trim? Why? Hester? Is it you? He exclaimed
• 32:24
  Speaker 1: with a laugh, as he shook off her grip and
• 32:26
  Speaker 1: looked up at her in surprise. Yes, and well it
• 32:29
  Speaker 1: is me. If it had been any of those silly girls,
• 32:31
  Speaker 1: the house would have been roused by this time. What
• 32:34
  Speaker 1: mischief is afoot that you leave your bed and play
• 32:36
  Speaker 1: ghost in this wild fashion? Leave my bed? Why, my
• 32:40
  Speaker 1: good soul, I haven't stirred to been dreaming with all
• 32:43
  Speaker 1: my might these two hours? What do you mean? Hester,
• 32:47
  Speaker 1: she told him, as she re lit her lamp and
• 32:49
  Speaker 1: stood eyeing him sharply the while. When she finished, he
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: was silent a minute, then said, looking half vexed and
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: half ashamed, I see how it is, and I am
• 32:59
  Speaker 1: glad you alone have found me out. I walk in
• 33:01
  Speaker 1: my sleep sometimes. Hester, that's the truth. I thought i'd
• 33:05
  Speaker 1: got over it, but it's come back, you see, and
• 33:07
  Speaker 1: I'm sorry for it. Don't be troubled. I never do
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: any mischief or come to any harm. I just take
• 33:13
  Speaker 1: a quiet promenade and march back to bed again. Did
• 33:16
  Speaker 1: I frighten you? Just a trifle? But it's nothing, poor lad.
• 33:20
  Speaker 1: You'll have to have a bed fellow or be locked up.
• 33:23
  Speaker 1: It's dangerous to go roaming about in this way, said
• 33:26
  Speaker 1: Hester anxiously. It won't last long for I'll get more tired,
• 33:30
  Speaker 1: and then I shall sleep sounder. Don't tell any one, please,
• 33:33
  Speaker 1: else I'll laugh at me, and that's not pleasant. I
• 33:36
  Speaker 1: don't mind your knowing, for you seem almost like a mother,
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: and I thank you for it with all my heart.
• 33:42
  Speaker 1: He held out his hand with the look that was
• 33:44
  Speaker 1: irresistible to Hester, remembering only that he was a motherless boy.
• 33:48
  Speaker 1: She stroked the curly hair off his forehead and kissed him,
• 33:51
  Speaker 1: with the thought of her own son warm at her heart.
• 33:55
  Speaker 1: Good Night, dear, I'll say nothing but give you something
• 33:59
  Speaker 1: that will insure right sleep hereafter. With that, she left him,
• 34:03
  Speaker 1: but would have been annoyed. Could she have seen the
• 34:06
  Speaker 1: convulsion of boyish merriment which took possession of him alone,
• 34:09
  Speaker 1: for he laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks.
• 34:14
  Speaker 1: End of chapter three recording by Ashley Jane. Chapter four
• 34:25
  Speaker 1: of The Mysterious Key in What Is Opened by the
• 34:27
  Speaker 1: weezer may Alcott. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
• 34:32
  Speaker 1: Chapter four vanished. He's a handsome lad, and when any
• 34:37
  Speaker 1: woman might be proud to call her son, said Hester
• 34:40
  Speaker 1: to Bedford, the stately butler, as they lingered at the
• 34:43
  Speaker 1: hall door one autumn morning to watch their young lady's
• 34:46
  Speaker 1: departure on her daily ride. You are right, missus, Hester
• 34:50
  Speaker 1: is a fine lad, and yet he seems above his place,
• 34:53
  Speaker 1: though it does look very picture of a lady's groom,
• 34:56
  Speaker 1: replied Bedford approvingly. So he did, as he stood holding
• 35:00
  Speaker 1: the white pony of his little mistress. For the boy
• 35:03
  Speaker 1: gave an air to whatever he wore, and looked like
• 35:06
  Speaker 1: a gentleman, even in his livery. The dark blue coat
• 35:10
  Speaker 1: with silver buttons, the silver band about his hat, his
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: white topped boots and bright spurs, spotless gloves and tightly
• 35:17
  Speaker 1: drawn about were all in perfect order, all becoming, and
• 35:21
  Speaker 1: his handsome dark face caused many a susceptible mind to
• 35:24
  Speaker 1: blush and simper as they passed him. Gentleman Paul, as
• 35:29
  Speaker 1: the servants called him, was rather lofty and reserved among
• 35:32
  Speaker 1: his mates, but they liked him none the less, For
• 35:35
  Speaker 1: hester had dropped hints of his story and quiet, a
• 35:37
  Speaker 1: little romance sprung up about him. He stood leaning against
• 35:41
  Speaker 1: the docile creature, sunk in thought and quite unconscious of
• 35:45
  Speaker 1: the watches and whisperers close by. But as Lilian appeared,
• 35:51
  Speaker 1: he woke up, attended his duties like a well trained groom,
• 35:55
  Speaker 1: and linged over his task as if he liked it.
• 35:58
  Speaker 1: Down the avenue, he rode behind her, But as they
• 36:00
  Speaker 1: turned into a shady lane, Lilian beckoned, saying, in the
• 36:04
  Speaker 1: imperious tone habitual to her ride near me, I wish
• 36:08
  Speaker 1: to talk. Paul obeyed and amused her with the chat
• 36:11
  Speaker 1: she liked till they reached the hazel copse. Here he
• 36:15
  Speaker 1: drew rein, and, leaping down, gathered a handful of ripe
• 36:18
  Speaker 1: nuts for her. How nice. Let us rest here a minute,
• 36:22
  Speaker 1: and while I eat a few, please pull some of
• 36:24
  Speaker 1: those flowers for mamma. She likes a wild nosegay better
• 36:27
  Speaker 1: than any I can bring her from the garden. Lilian
• 36:31
  Speaker 1: ate her nuts till Paul came to her with a
• 36:33
  Speaker 1: hatful of late flowers, and standing by her, held the
• 36:36
  Speaker 1: impromptu basket while she made up a bouquet to suit
• 36:39
  Speaker 1: her taste. You shall have a posy too. I'd like
• 36:43
  Speaker 1: you to wear one in your button hole, as the
• 36:45
  Speaker 1: lady's grooms do in the park, said the child, setting
• 36:48
  Speaker 1: a scarlet poppy in the blue coat. Thanks, mister Lilian,
• 36:52
  Speaker 1: I'll wear your colors with all my heart, especially to day,
• 36:55
  Speaker 1: for it is my birthday. And Paul looked up at
• 36:58
  Speaker 1: the blooming little face with an unusual softness in his
• 37:01
  Speaker 1: keen blue eyes. Is it Why? Then? You're seventeen, almost
• 37:06
  Speaker 1: a man, aren't you? Yes? Thank Heaven, muttered the boy,
• 37:10
  Speaker 1: half to himself. I wish I was old. I sha'n't
• 37:13
  Speaker 1: be in my teen still, autumn. I must give you
• 37:16
  Speaker 1: something poor, because I like you very much and you
• 37:18
  Speaker 1: are always doing kind things for me. What shall it be?
• 37:22
  Speaker 1: And the child held out her hand with a cordial
• 37:24
  Speaker 1: look and gesture that touched the boy with one of
• 37:28
  Speaker 1: the foreign fashions which sometimes appeared when he forgot himself.
• 37:32
  Speaker 1: He kissed a small hand, saying impossibly, my dear little mistress,
• 37:36
  Speaker 1: I want nothing but your good will and your forgiveness,
• 37:40
  Speaker 1: he added under his breath. You have that already, Paul,
• 37:43
  Speaker 1: and I shall find something to add to it. But
• 37:46
  Speaker 1: what is that? And she laid hold of a little locket,
• 37:49
  Speaker 1: which had slipped into sight as Paul bent forward in
• 37:52
  Speaker 1: his salute. He thrust it back, coloring so deeply that
• 37:55
  Speaker 1: the child observed it and exclaimed, with a mischievous laugh,
• 37:59
  Speaker 1: HiT's your sweetheart, Paul. I heard Bessie, my maid, tell
• 38:03
  Speaker 1: hester she was sure you had one because you took
• 38:05
  Speaker 1: no notice of them. Let me see it is she pretty?
• 38:09
  Speaker 1: Very pretty, answered the boy, without showing the picture. Do
• 38:13
  Speaker 1: you like her very much? Questioned Lilian, getting interested in
• 38:17
  Speaker 1: the little romance very much, and poor's black eyelashes fell.
• 38:22
  Speaker 1: Would you die for her, as they say in the
• 38:24
  Speaker 1: old songs, asked the girl melodramatically, yes, miss Lilian, or
• 38:30
  Speaker 1: live for her, which is harder. Dear me, how very
• 38:33
  Speaker 1: nice it must be to have any one care for
• 38:35
  Speaker 1: one so much, said the child innocently. I wonder if
• 38:38
  Speaker 1: anybody ever will for me. Love comes to all soon
• 38:42
  Speaker 1: or late, and maketh gay or sad, For every bird
• 38:45
  Speaker 1: will find its mate, and every lass a lad, sang Paul,
• 38:49
  Speaker 1: quoting one of Hester's songs, and looking relieved that Lilian's
• 38:52
  Speaker 1: thoughts had strayed from him. But he was mistaken. Shall
• 38:57
  Speaker 1: you marry this sweetheart of yours? Some day, asked Lily,
• 39:00
  Speaker 1: and turning to him with a curious yet wistful look.
• 39:04
  Speaker 1: Perhaps you look as if there was no perhaps about it,
• 39:08
  Speaker 1: said the child, quick to read the kindling of the
• 39:11
  Speaker 1: eye and the change in the voice had accompanied the
• 39:13
  Speaker 1: boy's reply. She is very young, and I must wait.
• 39:18
  Speaker 1: And while I wait, many things may happen to part us.
• 39:22
  Speaker 1: Is she a lady? Yes, a well born, lovely little lady,
• 39:26
  Speaker 1: And I'll marry her if I live, Paul spoke, with
• 39:29
  Speaker 1: a look of decision and a proud lift of the
• 39:31
  Speaker 1: head that contrasted curiously with the badge of servitude he wore.
• 39:36
  Speaker 1: Lilian felt this and asked, with a sudden shyness coming
• 39:39
  Speaker 1: over her, But you are a gentleman, and so no
• 39:42
  Speaker 1: one will mind even if you were not rich. How
• 39:46
  Speaker 1: do you know what I am, he asked quickly. I
• 39:49
  Speaker 1: heard Hester tell the housekeeper that you were not what
• 39:52
  Speaker 1: you seemed, and one day she hoped you'd get your
• 39:54
  Speaker 1: right place again. I asked Mamma about it, and she
• 39:58
  Speaker 1: said she would not let me be with you so
• 40:00
  Speaker 1: much if you were not a fit companion for me.
• 40:03
  Speaker 1: I was not to speak of it. But she means
• 40:05
  Speaker 1: to be your friend and help you by and by
• 40:09
  Speaker 1: does She and the boy laughed, an odd, short laugh
• 40:13
  Speaker 1: that jarred on Lilian's ear and made her say reprovingly.
• 40:17
  Speaker 1: You are proud, I know, but you'll let us help
• 40:19
  Speaker 1: you because we like to do it. And I have
• 40:22
  Speaker 1: no brother to share my money with. Would you like
• 40:25
  Speaker 1: one or a sister, asked Paul, looking straight into her
• 40:28
  Speaker 1: face with his piercing eyes. Yes, indeed I long for
• 40:33
  Speaker 1: someone to be with me and love me as Mamma can't.
• 40:36
  Speaker 1: Would you be willing to share everything with another person, perhaps,
• 40:39
  Speaker 1: have to give them a great many things you like,
• 40:42
  Speaker 1: and now have all to yourself? I think I should.
• 40:46
  Speaker 1: I'm selfish, I know, because every one pets and spoils me.
• 40:50
  Speaker 1: But if I loved a person dearly, I'd give up
• 40:53
  Speaker 1: anything to them. Indeed, I would, Paul, pray, believe me.
• 40:57
  Speaker 1: She spoke earnestly and leaned on his shoulders enforce her words.
• 41:02
  Speaker 1: The boy's arm stole around the little figure in the saddle,
• 41:06
  Speaker 1: and a beautiful smile broke over his face, and he
• 41:09
  Speaker 1: answered warmly, I do believe it, dear, and it makes
• 41:13
  Speaker 1: me happy to hear you say so. Don't be afraid
• 41:16
  Speaker 1: I'm your equal. T'll not forget that you are, my
• 41:18
  Speaker 1: little mistress till I can change from groom to gentlemen.
• 41:22
  Speaker 1: He added the last sentence as he withdrew his arm.
• 41:25
  Speaker 1: For Lilian had trunk a little and blushed with surprise,
• 41:27
  Speaker 1: not anger at this first breach of respect on the
• 41:30
  Speaker 1: part of her companion. Both were silent for a moment,
• 41:35
  Speaker 1: Paul looking down, and Lily and busy with her nosegay.
• 41:38
  Speaker 1: She spoke first, assuming an air of satisfaction as she
• 41:41
  Speaker 1: surveyed her work. That will please Mamma, I'm sure, and
• 41:45
  Speaker 1: make her quite forget my naughty prank of yesterday. Do
• 41:49
  Speaker 1: you know I offend her dreadfully by peeping into the
• 41:52
  Speaker 1: gold case she wears on her neck. She was asleep
• 41:55
  Speaker 1: and I was sitting by her. In her sleep. She
• 41:58
  Speaker 1: poured it out and said something about a letter her
• 42:00
  Speaker 1: and Papa. I wanted to see Papa's face, for I
• 42:04
  Speaker 1: never did, because the big picture of him is gone
• 42:06
  Speaker 1: from the gallery where the others are. So I peeped
• 42:09
  Speaker 1: into the case when she let it drop, and was
• 42:12
  Speaker 1: so disappointed to find nothing but a key. A key.
• 42:17
  Speaker 1: What sort of a key, cried Paul in an eager tone, Oh,
• 42:21
  Speaker 1: little silver one like the key on my piano or
• 42:24
  Speaker 1: the black cabinet. She woke and was very angry to
• 42:28
  Speaker 1: find me meddling. What did it belong to, asked Paul,
• 42:32
  Speaker 1: her treasure box? She said, So, I don't know where
• 42:35
  Speaker 1: it is or what that is, and I dare not
• 42:37
  Speaker 1: ask any more, for she forbade me speaking to her
• 42:40
  Speaker 1: about it. Poor mamma, I'm always troubling her in some
• 42:43
  Speaker 1: way or other. With a penitent sigh, Lilian tied up
• 42:47
  Speaker 1: her flowers and handed them to Paul to carry. As
• 42:51
  Speaker 1: she did so, the change in his face struck her.
• 42:53
  Speaker 1: How grim and old you look, she exclaimed. Have I
• 42:57
  Speaker 1: said anything that troubles you? No, miss, I am only thinking.
• 43:02
  Speaker 1: Then I wish you wouldn't think, for you get a
• 43:04
  Speaker 1: great wrinkle in your forehead, your eyes grow almost black,
• 43:08
  Speaker 1: and your mouth looks fierce. You are a very odd person.
• 43:11
  Speaker 1: Paul one minute as gay as any boy, and the
• 43:14
  Speaker 1: next as grave and stern, as a man with a
• 43:16
  Speaker 1: deal of work to do. I have got a deal
• 43:19
  Speaker 1: of work to do, so no wonder I look old
• 43:21
  Speaker 1: and grim? What work Paul to make my fortune and
• 43:25
  Speaker 1: win my lady? When Paul spoke in that tone and
• 43:29
  Speaker 1: wore that look, Lilian felt as if they had changed places,
• 43:32
  Speaker 1: and he was the master and she was a serpent.
• 43:36
  Speaker 1: She wandered over this in her childish mind, but proud
• 43:38
  Speaker 1: and wilful as she was, she liked it, and obeyed
• 43:41
  Speaker 1: him with unusual meekness. When he suggested that it was
• 43:45
  Speaker 1: time to return. As he rode silently beside her, she
• 43:49
  Speaker 1: stole covert glances at him from under her wide hat
• 43:52
  Speaker 1: brim and studied his unconscious face as she had never
• 43:56
  Speaker 1: done before. His lips moved now and then, but uttered
• 43:59
  Speaker 1: no order sound. His black brows were knit, and once
• 44:03
  Speaker 1: his hand went to his breast, as if he thought
• 44:05
  Speaker 1: of the little sweetheart whose picture lay there. He's got
• 44:09
  Speaker 1: a trouble. I wish he'd tell me and let me
• 44:11
  Speaker 1: help him. If I can. I'll make him show me
• 44:15
  Speaker 1: that miniature some day, for I'm interested in Natghar, thought
• 44:19
  Speaker 1: Lilian with a pensive sigh, as he held his hand
• 44:22
  Speaker 1: for her little thought. In dismounting her at the hall door,
• 44:25
  Speaker 1: Paul seemed to have shaken off his grave mood, for
• 44:28
  Speaker 1: he looked up and smiled at her with his blithest expression.
• 44:32
  Speaker 1: But Lilian appeared to be the thoughtful one now, and
• 44:35
  Speaker 1: with an air of dignity, very pretty and becoming thanked
• 44:38
  Speaker 1: her young squire in a stately manner, and swept into
• 44:41
  Speaker 1: the house, looking tall and womanly in her flowing scarts.
• 44:46
  Speaker 1: Paul laughed as he glanced after her, and, flinging himself
• 44:49
  Speaker 1: on to his horse, rode away to the stables at
• 44:51
  Speaker 1: a reckless pace, as if to work off some emotion
• 44:55
  Speaker 1: for which he could find no other vent. Here's a
• 44:58
  Speaker 1: letter for you, lad, all the way from some place
• 45:00
  Speaker 1: in Italy. Who'd you know there, said Bedford, as the
• 45:04
  Speaker 1: boy came back with a hasty thank you. Paul caught
• 45:07
  Speaker 1: the letter and darted away to his own room there
• 45:11
  Speaker 1: to tear it open, and, after reading a single line,
• 45:14
  Speaker 1: to drop into a chair as if he had received
• 45:16
  Speaker 1: a sudden blow. Growing paler and paler, he read on,
• 45:20
  Speaker 1: and when the letter fell from his hands, he exclaimed,
• 45:23
  Speaker 1: in a tone of despair. How could he die at
• 45:26
  Speaker 1: such a time. For an hour the boy sat thinking intently,
• 45:30
  Speaker 1: with the locked door, cart and window, and several papers
• 45:33
  Speaker 1: strewn before him, letters, memoranda, plans, drawings, and bits of parchment,
• 45:39
  Speaker 1: all of which he took from a small locked portfolio
• 45:43
  Speaker 1: always worn about him. Over these he poured with a
• 45:46
  Speaker 1: face in which hope, despondency, resolve, and regret alternated Rapidly.
• 45:52
  Speaker 1: Taking the locket out, he examined a ring which lay
• 45:55
  Speaker 1: in one side, in a childish face, which smiled on
• 45:58
  Speaker 1: him from the other. His eyes filled as he looked
• 46:01
  Speaker 1: and put it by, staying tenderly, dear little heart, I'll
• 46:06
  Speaker 1: not forget or desert her. Whatever happens, Time must help me,
• 46:10
  Speaker 1: and to time. I must leave my work one more attempt,
• 46:13
  Speaker 1: and then I'm off. I'll go to bed now, hester
• 46:16
  Speaker 1: But while you get my things ready, I'll take a
• 46:18
  Speaker 1: turn in the corridor. The air will refresh me. As
• 46:22
  Speaker 1: she spoke, Lady Trevelin drew her wrapper about her and
• 46:25
  Speaker 1: paced softly down the long hall, lighted only by fitful
• 46:28
  Speaker 1: gleams of moonlight and the ruddy glow of the fire.
• 46:32
  Speaker 1: At the far end was a state chamber, never used
• 46:34
  Speaker 1: now and never visited except by Hester, who occasionally went
• 46:38
  Speaker 1: in to dust and air it, and my lady, who
• 46:41
  Speaker 1: always passed the anniversary of Sir Richard's death alone there.
• 46:46
  Speaker 1: The gallery was very dark, and she sailed and went
• 46:48
  Speaker 1: farther than the glass window in her restless walks. But
• 46:52
  Speaker 1: as she now approached she was startled to see a
• 46:54
  Speaker 1: streak of yellow light under the door. She kept the
• 46:57
  Speaker 1: key herself, and neither she nor Hester, who had been
• 47:00
  Speaker 1: there that day. A cold shiver passed over her, for
• 47:03
  Speaker 1: as she looked, the shadow of a foot darkened the
• 47:06
  Speaker 1: light for a moment and vanished, as if some one
• 47:08
  Speaker 1: had noiselessly passed. Obeying a sudden impulse, my lady sprang
• 47:14
  Speaker 1: forward and tried to open the door. It was locked,
• 47:17
  Speaker 1: but at her hand turned the silver knob. A sound
• 47:20
  Speaker 1: as if a drawer softly closed, met her ear. She
• 47:23
  Speaker 1: stooped to the keyhole, but it was dark, a key
• 47:26
  Speaker 1: evidently being in the lock. She drew back and flew
• 47:29
  Speaker 1: to her room, snatched the key from her dressing table,
• 47:32
  Speaker 1: and bidding Hester follow return to the hall. What is it,
• 47:37
  Speaker 1: my lady, cried? The woman alarmed at the agitation of
• 47:40
  Speaker 1: her mistress. A light, a sound, a shadow, and a
• 47:43
  Speaker 1: state chamber. Come quick, cried Lady Trevelin, adding as she
• 47:47
  Speaker 1: pointed to the door. There there the light shines underneath.
• 47:51
  Speaker 1: Do you see it? No, my lady, it is dark,
• 47:55
  Speaker 1: returned Hester, it was, But never pausing, my lady thrust
• 47:59
  Speaker 1: in the key, and to her surprise, it turned the
• 48:02
  Speaker 1: door fully open, and the dim still room was before them.
• 48:06
  Speaker 1: Hester boldly entered, and while her mistress slowly followed, she
• 48:09
  Speaker 1: searched the room, looking behind the tall screen, by the hearth,
• 48:13
  Speaker 1: up the wide chimney, in the great wardrobe, and under
• 48:16
  Speaker 1: the ebony cabinet where all the relics of Sir Richard
• 48:19
  Speaker 1: were kept. Nothing appeared, not even a mouth. And Hester
• 48:23
  Speaker 1: turned to my lady with an air of relief. But
• 48:26
  Speaker 1: her mistress pointed to the bed, crowded in dark velvet hangings,
• 48:29
  Speaker 1: and whispered, breathlessly, you forgot to look her. Hester had
• 48:34
  Speaker 1: not forgotten, but in spite of her courage and good sense,
• 48:37
  Speaker 1: she shrank a little from looking at the spot where
• 48:40
  Speaker 1: she had last seen her master's dead face. She believed
• 48:44
  Speaker 1: the light and sound be phantoms of my lady's distempered fancy,
• 48:48
  Speaker 1: and searched merely to satisfy her. The mystery of Sir
• 48:52
  Speaker 1: Richard's death still haunted the minds of all who remembered it,
• 48:55
  Speaker 1: and even Hester felt a superstitious dread of that room.
• 48:59
  Speaker 1: With a nervous she looked under the bed, and, drawing
• 49:02
  Speaker 1: back the heavy curtains, said, soothingly, you see, my lady,
• 49:05
  Speaker 1: there's nothing there but the wilds. Died on her lips.
• 49:09
  Speaker 1: As the pale glimmer of the candle pierced the gloom
• 49:12
  Speaker 1: of that funeral couch, both saw a face upon the pillow,
• 49:16
  Speaker 1: a pale face framed in dark hair and beard, with
• 49:19
  Speaker 1: closed eyes and a stony look the dead ware. A loud,
• 49:23
  Speaker 1: long shriek that roused the house broke from Lady Trevelin
• 49:26
  Speaker 1: as she fell senseless at the bedside, and dropping both
• 49:29
  Speaker 1: curtain and candle, Hester caught up her mistress and fled
• 49:32
  Speaker 1: from the haunted room, locking the door behind her. In
• 49:36
  Speaker 1: a moment a dozen servants were about them, and into
• 49:39
  Speaker 1: their astonished ears, Hester poured her story, while vainly trying
• 49:42
  Speaker 1: to restore her lady. Great was the dismay and intense
• 49:46
  Speaker 1: the unwillingness of any one to obey. When Hester ordered
• 49:50
  Speaker 1: the men to search the room again, for she was
• 49:52
  Speaker 1: the first to regain her self possession. Where's Paul. It's
• 49:56
  Speaker 1: the hard for man boy though he is, she said angrily,
• 50:00
  Speaker 1: as the men hung back. He's not here, Lord, Maybe
• 50:04
  Speaker 1: it was him, a plain tricks. Though it ain't like him,
• 50:07
  Speaker 1: cried Bessy, Lilian's little maid. No it can't be him,
• 50:11
  Speaker 1: for I locked him in myself. He walks in his
• 50:13
  Speaker 1: sleep sometimes, and I was afraid he'd startled my lady.
• 50:16
  Speaker 1: Let him sleep. This could only excite him and set
• 50:19
  Speaker 1: him to marching again. Follow me bed, for than James,
• 50:22
  Speaker 1: I am not afraid of ghosts or rogues. With a
• 50:25
  Speaker 1: face that belied her words, Hester led the way to
• 50:29
  Speaker 1: the awful room, and, flinging back the curtain resolutely, looked in.
• 50:33
  Speaker 1: The bed was empty, but on the pillow was plainly
• 50:36
  Speaker 1: visible the mark of a head and a single scarlet stain,
• 50:39
  Speaker 1: as if of blood. At that sight, Hester turned pale
• 50:42
  Speaker 1: and caught the butler's arm, whispering with a shudder. Do
• 50:46
  Speaker 1: you remember the night we put him in his coffin
• 50:49
  Speaker 1: the drop of blood that fell from his white lips.
• 50:52
  Speaker 1: Sir Richard has been here. Good lord, ma'am, don't say
• 50:56
  Speaker 1: that we can never rest in our beds, of such
• 50:58
  Speaker 1: things are to happen, gasped Bedford, backing to the door.
• 51:03
  Speaker 1: It's no use to look. We've found what we shall find.
• 51:06
  Speaker 1: So go your ways and tell no one of this,
• 51:08
  Speaker 1: said the woman in a gloomy tone, and having assured
• 51:11
  Speaker 1: herself that the windows were fast, Hester locked the room
• 51:14
  Speaker 1: and ordered everyone but Bedford and the housekeeper to bed.
• 51:19
  Speaker 1: Do you sit outside my lady's door till morning, she
• 51:22
  Speaker 1: said to the butler, and you, missus Price, help me
• 51:25
  Speaker 1: to tend my poor lady, For if I'm not mistaken,
• 51:28
  Speaker 1: this night's work will bring on the old trouble. Morning
• 51:32
  Speaker 1: came and with it a new alarm. For though his
• 51:34
  Speaker 1: door was fast locked, and no foothold for even a
• 51:37
  Speaker 1: sparrow outside the window, Paul's room was empty, and the
• 51:40
  Speaker 1: boy nowhere to be found. End of chapter four recording
• 51:45
  Speaker 1: by Ashley Jane. Chapter five of The Mysterious Key and
• 51:54
  Speaker 1: What It Opened by Louisa may Alcott. This LibriVox recording
• 51:58
  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Chapter five a hero four
• 52:04
  Speaker 1: years had passed and Lilian was fast blooming into a
• 52:07
  Speaker 1: lovely woman, proud and wilful as ever, but very charming
• 52:11
  Speaker 1: and already a bell in the little wild where she
• 52:13
  Speaker 1: still reigned the queen. Owing to her mother's ill health,
• 52:17
  Speaker 1: she was allowed more freedom than as usually permitted to
• 52:20
  Speaker 1: an English girl of her age, and during the season
• 52:23
  Speaker 1: often went into company with a friend of Lady Trevelin's,
• 52:27
  Speaker 1: who was chaperoning two young daughters of her own to
• 52:30
  Speaker 1: the world. Lilian seemed a gay, free hearted girl, and
• 52:33
  Speaker 1: no one, not even her mother, knew how well she
• 52:36
  Speaker 1: remembered and how much she missed the lost pool. No
• 52:40
  Speaker 1: tidings of him had ever come, and no trace of
• 52:43
  Speaker 1: him was found. After his flight. Nothing was missed, He
• 52:46
  Speaker 1: went without his wages, and no reason could be divined
• 52:49
  Speaker 1: for his departure except the foreign letter. Bedford remembered it,
• 52:54
  Speaker 1: but forgot what postmarket bore, for he had only been
• 52:57
  Speaker 1: able to decipher Italy. My lady made many inquiries and
• 53:01
  Speaker 1: often spoke of him, but when month after month passed
• 53:04
  Speaker 1: and no news came, she gave him up, and, on
• 53:07
  Speaker 1: Lilian's account, feigned to forget him. Contrary to Hester's fear,
• 53:12
  Speaker 1: she did not seem the worst for the nocturnal fright,
• 53:15
  Speaker 1: but evidently connected the strange visitor with Paul. Or after
• 53:19
  Speaker 1: a day or two of nervous exhaustion, returned to her
• 53:21
  Speaker 1: usual state of health. Hester had her own misgivings, but
• 53:26
  Speaker 1: being forbidden to allude to the subject, she held her
• 53:29
  Speaker 1: peace after emphatically declaring that Paul would yet appear to
• 53:32
  Speaker 1: set her mind at rest. Lilian, Lilian, I've such news
• 53:37
  Speaker 1: for you. Come and here a charming little romance, prepared
• 53:40
  Speaker 1: to see the hero of it, cried Maude Churchill, Rushing
• 53:43
  Speaker 1: into her friend's pretty boudoir one day in the height
• 53:47
  Speaker 1: of the season. Lilian lay on a couch, rather languid
• 53:51
  Speaker 1: after a ball, and listlessly begged Maud to tell her story,
• 53:54
  Speaker 1: for she was dying to be amused. Well, my dear,
• 53:58
  Speaker 1: just listen and you'll be as enthusiastic as I am,
• 54:01
  Speaker 1: cried Maude, and throwing her bonnet on one chair, her
• 54:04
  Speaker 1: parasol on another, and her gloves anywhere, she settled herself
• 54:08
  Speaker 1: on the couch and began. You remember reading in the
• 54:11
  Speaker 1: papers some time ago that fine account of the young
• 54:14
  Speaker 1: man who took part in the Italian Revolution and did
• 54:18
  Speaker 1: that heroic thing with the bomb shell. Yes, what of him,
• 54:22
  Speaker 1: asked Lilian, sitting up. Here's my hero, and we have
• 54:26
  Speaker 1: seen him to night. Go on, go on, tell all,
• 54:29
  Speaker 1: and tell it quickly, she cried. You know the officers
• 54:32
  Speaker 1: were sitting somewhere holding a council rather city I forget
• 54:36
  Speaker 1: the name, was being bombarded, And how a shell came
• 54:39
  Speaker 1: into the midst of them, How they sat paralyzed, expecting
• 54:42
  Speaker 1: it to bast and how this young man caught it
• 54:45
  Speaker 1: up and ran out with it, risking his own knife
• 54:47
  Speaker 1: to save theirs. Yes, yes, I remember, and Lilian's listless
• 54:52
  Speaker 1: face kindled at the recollection, while an Englishman who was
• 54:56
  Speaker 1: there was so charmed by the act that, finding the
• 54:58
  Speaker 1: young man was poor and orphan, he adopted him. Mister
• 55:02
  Speaker 1: Talbot was old and lonely and rich, and when he
• 55:04
  Speaker 1: died a year after, he left his name and a
• 55:06
  Speaker 1: fortune into this Paoloa. I'm glad, I'm glad, cried Lilian,
• 55:11
  Speaker 1: clapping her hands with a joyful face. How romantic and
• 55:14
  Speaker 1: charming it is, isn't it, But my dear creature, the
• 55:18
  Speaker 1: most romantic part is to come. Young Talbot served in
• 55:22
  Speaker 1: the Wall and then came to England to take possession
• 55:24
  Speaker 1: of his property. It's somewhere down in Kent, a fine
• 55:28
  Speaker 1: place and good income all his, and he deserves it.
• 55:31
  Speaker 1: Mamma heard a deal about him from Missus Langdon, who
• 55:34
  Speaker 1: knew Old Talbot and has seen the young man. Of course,
• 55:37
  Speaker 1: all the girls are wild to behold him, for he
• 55:40
  Speaker 1: is very handsome and accomplished, and a gentleman by bath.
• 55:43
  Speaker 1: But the dreadful part is that he has already betrothed
• 55:46
  Speaker 1: to a lovely Greek girl who came over at the
• 55:48
  Speaker 1: same time and is living in London with a companion,
• 55:51
  Speaker 1: quite elegantly, Missus Langdon says, for she called and was charmed.
• 55:56
  Speaker 1: This girl has been seen by some of our gentlemen friends,
• 55:59
  Speaker 1: and they all ready rave about the fair Helen, for
• 56:02
  Speaker 1: that's her name. Here Maude was forced to stop for breath,
• 56:05
  Speaker 1: and Lilian had a chance to question her. How old
• 56:09
  Speaker 1: is she? About eighteen or nineteen? They say, very pretty, ravishing,
• 56:15
  Speaker 1: regularly Greek and divine. Fred Raleigh says, when is she
• 56:19
  Speaker 1: to be married? Don't know when Talbert gets settled. I
• 56:23
  Speaker 1: fancy and he is as charming as she quite. I'm
• 56:29
  Speaker 1: told he's just of age and is in appearance as
• 56:31
  Speaker 1: in everything else a hero of romance? How came your
• 56:35
  Speaker 1: mother to secure him for tonight? Missus Langdon is dying
• 56:39
  Speaker 1: to make a line of him and beg to bring him.
• 56:42
  Speaker 1: He is very indifferent on such things and seems intent
• 56:45
  Speaker 1: on his own affairs. Is grave and old for his years,
• 56:48
  Speaker 1: and doesn't seem to care much for pleasure and admiration
• 56:52
  Speaker 1: as most men would after a youth like his, For
• 56:54
  Speaker 1: he has had a hard time. I believe for a
• 56:57
  Speaker 1: wonder he consented to come when Missus lange and asked him,
• 57:00
  Speaker 1: and I flew off at once to tell you and
• 57:02
  Speaker 1: secure you for to night a thousand thanks. I meant
• 57:06
  Speaker 1: to rest, for Mamma frets about my being so gay,
• 57:09
  Speaker 1: but she won't object to a quiet evening with you.
• 57:12
  Speaker 1: What shall we wear? And here the conversation branched off
• 57:16
  Speaker 1: on the all absorbing topic of dress. When Lilian joined
• 57:20
  Speaker 1: her friend that evening, the hero had already arrived, and
• 57:24
  Speaker 1: stepping into a recess, she waited to catch a glimpse
• 57:27
  Speaker 1: of him. Maude was called away and she was alone
• 57:30
  Speaker 1: when the crowd about the inner room thinned and permitted
• 57:32
  Speaker 1: young Talbot to be seen well for Lilian that no
• 57:36
  Speaker 1: one observed her at the moment, for she grew pale
• 57:39
  Speaker 1: and sank into a chair, exclaiming below her breath, it
• 57:43
  Speaker 1: is Paul, my Paul. She recognized him instantly, in spite
• 57:48
  Speaker 1: of increased height, a dark mustache, and martial bearing. It
• 57:52
  Speaker 1: was Paul, older, graver, handsomer, but still her Paul, as
• 57:56
  Speaker 1: she called him, with a flush of pride and delight
• 57:59
  Speaker 1: as she watched him and felt that of all there
• 58:02
  Speaker 1: she knew him best and loved him most, for the
• 58:04
  Speaker 1: childish affection still existed, and this discovery added a tinge
• 58:08
  Speaker 1: of romance that made it doubly dangerous as well as
• 58:11
  Speaker 1: doubly pleasant. Will he know me? She thought, glancing at
• 58:15
  Speaker 1: a mirror which reflected a slender figure with bright hair,
• 58:19
  Speaker 1: white arms, and brilliant eyes, a graceful little head proudly carried,
• 58:23
  Speaker 1: and a sweet mouth just then very charming as it
• 58:26
  Speaker 1: smiled till parly teeth shone between the ruddy lips. I'm glad,
• 58:30
  Speaker 1: I'm not ugly, and I hope he'll like me, she thought,
• 58:33
  Speaker 1: as she smoothed the golden ripples of her forehead, settled
• 58:37
  Speaker 1: her sash, and shook out the folds of her airy
• 58:40
  Speaker 1: dress in a flutter of girlish excitement. I'll pretend not
• 58:44
  Speaker 1: to know him when we meet, and see what he
• 58:46
  Speaker 1: will do, she said, with a wicked sense of power.
• 58:49
  Speaker 1: For being forewarned, she was forearmed, and, fearing no betrayal
• 58:52
  Speaker 1: of surprise on her own part, was eager to enjoy
• 58:55
  Speaker 1: any of which he might be guilty. Leaving her nook,
• 58:59
  Speaker 1: she in a group of young friends and held herself
• 59:02
  Speaker 1: prepared for the meeting. Presently, she saw Maude and missus
• 59:05
  Speaker 1: Langdon approach, evidently intent on presenting the hero to their heiress,
• 59:11
  Speaker 1: mister Talbot, Miss Trevelin, said the lady, and looking up
• 59:15
  Speaker 1: with a well assumed air of indifference, Lilian returned the
• 59:18
  Speaker 1: gentleman's bow with her eyes fixed full upon his face.
• 59:22
  Speaker 1: Not a feature of that face changed, and so severely
• 59:25
  Speaker 1: unconscious of any recognition was it that the girl was bewildered.
• 59:30
  Speaker 1: For a moment she fancied she had been mistaken in
• 59:32
  Speaker 1: his identity, and a pang of disappointment troubled her. But
• 59:36
  Speaker 1: as he moved a chair for Maude, she saw on
• 59:38
  Speaker 1: the one ungloved hand a little scar which she remembered well,
• 59:42
  Speaker 1: for he received it in saving her from a dangerous
• 59:45
  Speaker 1: fall at the sight all the happy past rose before her,
• 59:49
  Speaker 1: and if her telltale eyes had not been averted, they
• 59:51
  Speaker 1: would have betrayed her. A sudden flush of maidenly shame
• 59:55
  Speaker 1: dyed her cheek as she remembered the last ride and
• 59:58
  Speaker 1: the childish confidences then exchanged. This Helen was the little
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 1: sweetheart whose picture he wore, and now, in spite of
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 1: all obstacles, he had won both fortune and lady love.
• 1:00:11
  Speaker 1: The sound of his voice recalled her thoughts, and glancing up,
• 1:00:14
  Speaker 1: she met the deep eyes fixed on her with the
• 1:00:17
  Speaker 1: same steady look they used to wear. He had addressed her.
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 1: But what he said she knew, not beyond a vague
• 1:00:23
  Speaker 1: idea that it was some slight allusion to the music
• 1:00:26
  Speaker 1: going on in the next room. With a smile which
• 1:00:29
  Speaker 1: would serve for an answer to almost any remark, she
• 1:00:33
  Speaker 1: hastily plunged into conversation with a composure that did her
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 1: credit in the eyes of her friends, who stood in
• 1:00:39
  Speaker 1: awe of the young hero. For all were but just out.
• 1:00:43
  Speaker 1: Mister Talbot hardly needs an introduction here, for his name
• 1:00:47
  Speaker 1: is well known among us, though this is perhaps his
• 1:00:49
  Speaker 1: first visit to England. She said, flattering herself that this
• 1:00:53
  Speaker 1: artful speech would entrap him into the reply she wanted,
• 1:00:57
  Speaker 1: With a slight frown as if the allusion to his
• 1:01:00
  Speaker 1: adventure rather annoyed him, and a smile that puzzled all
• 1:01:03
  Speaker 1: but Lilian, He answered, very simply, it is not my
• 1:01:07
  Speaker 1: first visit to this hospitable island. I was here a
• 1:01:10
  Speaker 1: few years ago for a short time and left with regret.
• 1:01:14
  Speaker 1: Then you have old friends here, and Lilian watched him
• 1:01:17
  Speaker 1: as she spoke, I had They had doubtless forgotten me, Now,
• 1:01:22
  Speaker 1: he said, with a sudden shadow marring the tranquility of
• 1:01:25
  Speaker 1: his face. Why doubt them? If they were true friends,
• 1:01:29
  Speaker 1: they will not forget. The words were uttered impossibly, almost warmly,
• 1:01:34
  Speaker 1: but Talbot made no response except a polite inclination and
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 1: an abrupt change in the conversation that remains to be proved.
• 1:01:43
  Speaker 1: Do you sing, miss trevelin a little? And Lilian's tone
• 1:01:47
  Speaker 1: was both cold and proud. A great deal, and very charmingly,
• 1:01:51
  Speaker 1: added Maude, who took pride in her friend's gifts, both
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 1: of voice and beauty. Come dear, there are so few
• 1:01:58
  Speaker 1: of us, she will sing. I know Uma desired me
• 1:02:00
  Speaker 1: to ask you when Edith had done. To her surprise,
• 1:02:04
  Speaker 1: Lilian complied and allowed Talbot to lead her to the instrument,
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 1: still hoping to win some sign of recognition from him.
• 1:02:10
  Speaker 1: The guard chosen air, he taught her, and sang it
• 1:02:13
  Speaker 1: with the spirit and skill that surprised the listeners, who
• 1:02:16
  Speaker 1: possessed no key to her mood. At the last base,
• 1:02:19
  Speaker 1: her voice suddenly faltered, but Talbot took up the song
• 1:02:23
  Speaker 1: and carried her safely through it with his wild chewed voice.
• 1:02:27
  Speaker 1: You know the air, then, she said, in a low tone,
• 1:02:30
  Speaker 1: as a hum of commendation followed the music. All Italians
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 1: sing it, though few do it like yourself, he answered, quietly,
• 1:02:38
  Speaker 1: restoring the fan he had held while standing beside her.
• 1:02:42
  Speaker 1: Provoking boy, why won't he know me? Thought Lilian, and
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 1: her tone was almost petulant as she refused to sing again.
• 1:02:50
  Speaker 1: Talbot offered his arm and led her to a seat,
• 1:02:52
  Speaker 1: behind which stood a little statuette of a child holding
• 1:02:56
  Speaker 1: a fawn by a daisy chain. Pretty, isn't it, she said, dared,
• 1:03:00
  Speaker 1: as he paused to look at it instead of taking
• 1:03:02
  Speaker 1: the chair before her. I used to enjoy modeling tiny
• 1:03:06
  Speaker 1: deer and hinds in wax, as well as making daisy chains.
• 1:03:10
  Speaker 1: A sculpture, among the many accomplishments which rumor tells that
• 1:03:13
  Speaker 1: she possess. No, those who like me have their own
• 1:03:18
  Speaker 1: fortunes to mold fine time for little else, he answered, gravely.
• 1:03:22
  Speaker 1: Still examining the marble group, Lilian broke her fan with
• 1:03:26
  Speaker 1: an angry flirt, for she was tired of her trial
• 1:03:29
  Speaker 1: and wished she had openly greeted him at the beginning,
• 1:03:32
  Speaker 1: feeling now how pleasant it would have been to sitch
• 1:03:34
  Speaker 1: chatting of old times while her friend stared hardly address
• 1:03:38
  Speaker 1: him at all. She was on the point of calling
• 1:03:41
  Speaker 1: him by his former name, when the remembrance of what
• 1:03:43
  Speaker 1: he had been arrested the words on her lips. He
• 1:03:46
  Speaker 1: was proud? Would he not dread to have it known
• 1:03:49
  Speaker 1: that in his days of adversity he had been a servant,
• 1:03:53
  Speaker 1: For if she betrayed her knowledge of his past, she
• 1:03:55
  Speaker 1: would be forced to tell where and how that knowledge
• 1:03:57
  Speaker 1: was gained. No better, wait they met alone, She thought
• 1:04:01
  Speaker 1: he would thank her for her delicacy, and she could
• 1:04:04
  Speaker 1: easily explain her motive. He evidently wished to seem a stranger,
• 1:04:08
  Speaker 1: for once she caught a gleam of the old mirthful
• 1:04:10
  Speaker 1: mischief in his eye as she glanced up unexpectedly, he
• 1:04:14
  Speaker 1: did remember her, she was sure, yet was trying her,
• 1:04:17
  Speaker 1: perhaps as she tried him, while she would stand the
• 1:04:21
  Speaker 1: test and enjoy the joke by and by. With this
• 1:04:24
  Speaker 1: fancy in her head, she assumed a gracious air and
• 1:04:26
  Speaker 1: chatted away in her most charming style, feeling both gay
• 1:04:30
  Speaker 1: and excited. So anxious was she to please and so
• 1:04:34
  Speaker 1: glad to recover her early friend, A naughty wind seized
• 1:04:38
  Speaker 1: her as her eye fell on a portfolio of classical engravings,
• 1:04:41
  Speaker 1: which some one had left in disorder on a table
• 1:04:45
  Speaker 1: near her. Tossing them over, she asked his opinion of
• 1:04:48
  Speaker 1: several and then handed him one in which Helen of
• 1:04:51
  Speaker 1: Troy was represented as giving her hand to the irresistible Paris.
• 1:04:56
  Speaker 1: Do you think her worth so much bloodshed and deserving
• 1:04:59
  Speaker 1: so much prey? She asked, vainly, trying to conceal the
• 1:05:02
  Speaker 1: significant smile that would break loose on her lips and
• 1:05:05
  Speaker 1: sparkle in her eyes. Talbot laughed, the short, boyish laugh
• 1:05:09
  Speaker 1: so familiar to her ears, as he glanced from the
• 1:05:12
  Speaker 1: picture to the arch questioner, and answered in a tone
• 1:05:15
  Speaker 1: that made her heart beat with a nameless pain and
• 1:05:18
  Speaker 1: pleasure so full of suppressed ardor was it? Yes? All
• 1:05:23
  Speaker 1: the love for the world well lost is a saying
• 1:05:25
  Speaker 1: I heartily agree to La Bell. Helen is my favorite heroine,
• 1:05:29
  Speaker 1: and I regard Paris as the most enviable of men.
• 1:05:33
  Speaker 1: I should like to see her. The wish broke from
• 1:05:36
  Speaker 1: Lilian involuntarily, and she was too much confused to turn
• 1:05:39
  Speaker 1: it off by any general expression of interest in the
• 1:05:42
  Speaker 1: classical lady you may sometime, answered Talbot with an air
• 1:05:47
  Speaker 1: of amusement, adding as if to relieve her. I have
• 1:05:50
  Speaker 1: a poetical belief that all the lovely women of history
• 1:05:53
  Speaker 1: or romance will meet and know unlove each other in
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 1: some charming hereafter. But I'm no heroine and no beauty,
• 1:06:00
  Speaker 1: so I shall never enter your poetical paradise, said Lilian,
• 1:06:04
  Speaker 1: with a pretty affection of regret. Some women are beauties
• 1:06:08
  Speaker 1: without knowing it, and the heroines of romance never given
• 1:06:11
  Speaker 1: to the world. I think you and Helen will yet meet,
• 1:06:14
  Speaker 1: Miss Trevelin. As he spoke, missus Langdon beckoned, and he
• 1:06:19
  Speaker 1: left her pondering over his last words and conscious of
• 1:06:22
  Speaker 1: a secret satisfaction in his implied promise that she should
• 1:06:26
  Speaker 1: see his betrothed. How do you like him? Whispered Maude,
• 1:06:30
  Speaker 1: slipping into the empty chair. Very well was the composed reply,
• 1:06:35
  Speaker 1: for Lilian enjoyed her little mystery too much to spoil it. Yet,
• 1:06:39
  Speaker 1: what did you say to him? I longed to hear,
• 1:06:41
  Speaker 1: for you seem to enjoy yourselves very much, but I
• 1:06:44
  Speaker 1: didn't like to be a marplot. Lilian repeated a part
• 1:06:48
  Speaker 1: of the conversation, and Maude professed to be consumed with
• 1:06:51
  Speaker 1: jealousy at the impression her friend had evidently made. It
• 1:06:56
  Speaker 1: is folly to try to win the hero, for he
• 1:06:58
  Speaker 1: has already won, you know, answered Lilian, shutting the cover
• 1:07:01
  Speaker 1: on the pictured Helen with a sudden motion, as if
• 1:07:04
  Speaker 1: glad to extinguish her. Oh, dear, no, missus Langdon just
• 1:07:08
  Speaker 1: told Mamma that she was mistaken about their being engaged,
• 1:07:11
  Speaker 1: For she asked him, and he shook his head, saying
• 1:07:14
  Speaker 1: Helen was his ward. But that is absurd, for he's
• 1:07:18
  Speaker 1: only a boy himself. Tis very odd, isn't it. Never mind,
• 1:07:22
  Speaker 1: I shall soon know all about it, how cried Maude,
• 1:07:26
  Speaker 1: amazed at Lilian's assured manner. Wait a day or two
• 1:07:30
  Speaker 1: and I'll tell you a romance. In return, for yours.
• 1:07:33
  Speaker 1: Your mother beckons to me. So when no Hester has come,
• 1:07:36
  Speaker 1: good night, I've had a charming time. And with this
• 1:07:40
  Speaker 1: tantalizing adiew, Lilian slipped away. Hester was waiting in the carriage.
• 1:07:45
  Speaker 1: Be as Lilian appeared, Talbert put aside the footman and
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 1: handed her in, saying, very low in the well remembered tone,
• 1:07:53
  Speaker 1: good night, my little mistress. End of chapter five recording
• 1:07:59
  Speaker 1: by Ashley Jane. Chapter six of The Mysterious Key and
• 1:08:08
  Speaker 1: What It Opened by Louisa may Alcott. This LibriVox recording
• 1:08:13
  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Chapter six fair Helen. To
• 1:08:17
  Speaker 1: no one but her mother and Hester. Did Lilian confide
• 1:08:20
  Speaker 1: the discovery she had made. None of the former servants,
• 1:08:24
  Speaker 1: but old Bedford remained with them until Paul chose to
• 1:08:27
  Speaker 1: renew their old friendship. It was best to remain silent.
• 1:08:32
  Speaker 1: Great was the surprise and delight of our lady and
• 1:08:34
  Speaker 1: Hester at the good fortune of their protegee, and many
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 1: the conjectures as to how he would explain his hasty flight.
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 1: You will go and see him, won't you, mamma, or
• 1:08:45
  Speaker 1: at least inquire about him, said Lilian, eager to assure
• 1:08:49
  Speaker 1: the wanderer of a welcome, for those few words of
• 1:08:52
  Speaker 1: his had satisfied her entirely. No, dear, it is for
• 1:08:56
  Speaker 1: him to seek us. Until he does, I shall make
• 1:08:59
  Speaker 1: no sign. He knows where we are, and if he chooses,
• 1:09:03
  Speaker 1: he can renew the acquaintance so strangely broken off. Be patient,
• 1:09:07
  Speaker 1: and above all things, remember Lilian, that you were no
• 1:09:11
  Speaker 1: longer a child, replied my lady, rather disturbed by her
• 1:09:15
  Speaker 1: daughter's enthusiastic praises of Paul, I wish I was, for
• 1:09:19
  Speaker 1: then I might act as I feel and not be
• 1:09:21
  Speaker 1: afraid of shocking and the proprieties. And Lilian went to
• 1:09:24
  Speaker 1: bed to dream of her hero. For three days, she
• 1:09:28
  Speaker 1: stayed at home expecting Paul, but he did not come,
• 1:09:31
  Speaker 1: and she went out for her usual ride in the park,
• 1:09:34
  Speaker 1: hoping to meet him. An elderly groom now rode behind her,
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 1: and she surveyed him with extreme disgust as she remembered
• 1:09:41
  Speaker 1: the handsome lad who had once filled that place. No
• 1:09:44
  Speaker 1: where did Paul appear, but in the lady's miles she
• 1:09:47
  Speaker 1: passed an elegant browham, in which sat a very lovely
• 1:09:51
  Speaker 1: girl and a mild old lady. That is Halbert's fiancee,
• 1:09:55
  Speaker 1: said Maude Churchill, who had joined her. Isn't she beautiful? Not? Yes, very,
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 1: was Lilian's somewhat peculiar reply, for jealousy and truth had
• 1:10:06
  Speaker 1: a conflict just then. He is so perfectly absorbed and
• 1:10:09
  Speaker 1: devouted that I am sure that story is true. So
• 1:10:12
  Speaker 1: ADU to our hopes, laughed Maude, did you have any
• 1:10:17
  Speaker 1: good bye? I must go, and Lilian rode home at
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 1: a pace which caused a stout groom great distress. Mamma,
• 1:10:24
  Speaker 1: I've seen Paul's betrothed, she cried, running into her mother's boudoir.
• 1:10:29
  Speaker 1: And I have seen Paul himself, replied my lady, with
• 1:10:32
  Speaker 1: a warning. Look for there he stood with half extended hand,
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 1: as if waiting to be acknowledged. Lilian forgot her embarrassment
• 1:10:40
  Speaker 1: in her pleasure and made him an elaborate courtesy, saying
• 1:10:43
  Speaker 1: with a half merry, half reproachful glance, mister Talbot is
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 1: welcome in whatever guise he appears. I choose to appear
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 1: as Paul then, and offer you a seat, miss Lilian,
• 1:10:53
  Speaker 1: he said, assuming as much of his boyish manner as
• 1:10:56
  Speaker 1: he could. Lilian took it and tried to feel at ease.
• 1:11:00
  Speaker 1: But the difference between the lad she remembered and the
• 1:11:02
  Speaker 1: man she now saw was too great to be forgotten.
• 1:11:06
  Speaker 1: Now tell us your adventures and why you vanished away
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 1: so mysteriously four years ago, she said, with a touch
• 1:11:12
  Speaker 1: of the childish imperiousness in her voice, though her frank
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 1: eyes fell before his. I was about to do so
• 1:11:20
  Speaker 1: when you appeared with news concerning my cousin. He began.
• 1:11:24
  Speaker 1: Your cousin, exclaimed Lilian. Yes, Helen's mother and my own
• 1:11:28
  Speaker 1: were sisters, both married englishmen, both died young, leaving us
• 1:11:33
  Speaker 1: to care for each other. We were like a brother
• 1:11:35
  Speaker 1: and sister, and always together till I left her to
• 1:11:38
  Speaker 1: serve Colonel Daventry. The death of the old priest to
• 1:11:41
  Speaker 1: whom I entrusted her recalled me to Genoa, for I
• 1:11:44
  Speaker 1: was then her only guardian. I meant to have taken
• 1:11:47
  Speaker 1: leave of you, my lady, properly, by the consequences of
• 1:11:50
  Speaker 1: that foolish trick of mine frightened me away in the
• 1:11:53
  Speaker 1: most unmannerly fashion. Ah, it was you then in the
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 1: state chamber, I always thought, and Lady Trevelin drew a
• 1:12:02
  Speaker 1: long breath of relief. Yes, I heard it, whispered among
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 1: the servants. That the room was haunted, and I felt
• 1:12:08
  Speaker 1: a wish to prove the truth of the story and
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 1: my own courage. Hester locked me in for fear of
• 1:12:13
  Speaker 1: my sleep walking, but I lowered myself by a rope
• 1:12:17
  Speaker 1: and then climbed in at the closet window of the
• 1:12:19
  Speaker 1: state chamber. When you came, my lady, I thought it
• 1:12:22
  Speaker 1: was Hester, and slipped into the bed, meaning to give
• 1:12:24
  Speaker 1: her a fright in return for her turning the key
• 1:12:27
  Speaker 1: on me. But when your cry showed me what I
• 1:12:29
  Speaker 1: had done, I was filled with remorse and escaped as
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 1: quickly and quietly as possible. I should have asked pardon
• 1:12:35
  Speaker 1: before I do now most humbly, my lady, for it
• 1:12:39
  Speaker 1: was sacrilege to pray pranks there. During the first part
• 1:12:44
  Speaker 1: of his story, Paul's manner had been frank and composed,
• 1:12:47
  Speaker 1: but in telling the latter part, his demeanor underwent the
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 1: curious change. He fixed his eyes on the ground and
• 1:12:53
  Speaker 1: spoke as if repeating a lesson, while his color varied,
• 1:12:57
  Speaker 1: and a half proud, half submissive expression replaced the form
• 1:13:01
  Speaker 1: a candid one. Lilian observed this, and it disturbed her,
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 1: but my lady took it for shame. At his boyish freak,
• 1:13:08
  Speaker 1: and received his confession kindly, granting a free pardon and
• 1:13:13
  Speaker 1: expressing sincere pleasure at his amended fortunes. As he listened,
• 1:13:17
  Speaker 1: Lilian saw him clench his hands hard and knit his brows,
• 1:13:21
  Speaker 1: assuming the grim look she had often seen, as if
• 1:13:24
  Speaker 1: trying to steel himself against some in fortunate emotion or
• 1:13:29
  Speaker 1: rebellious thought. Yes, half my work is done, and I
• 1:13:33
  Speaker 1: have a home, thanks to my generous benefactor, and I
• 1:13:36
  Speaker 1: hope to enjoy it well and wisely, he said, in
• 1:13:39
  Speaker 1: a grave tone, as if the fortune had not yet
• 1:13:41
  Speaker 1: brought him his heart's desire. And when is the other
• 1:13:44
  Speaker 1: half of the work to be accomplished, Paul? That depends
• 1:13:47
  Speaker 1: on your cousin perhaps, And Lady Trevlin regarded him with
• 1:13:50
  Speaker 1: a gleam of womanly curiosity in her melancholy eyes. It does,
• 1:13:55
  Speaker 1: but not in the way you fancy, My lady, whatever
• 1:13:59
  Speaker 1: Helen may be, she is not my fiancee yet, miss Lilian.
• 1:14:02
  Speaker 1: And the shadow lifted as he laughed, looking at the
• 1:14:05
  Speaker 1: young lady, who was decidedly abashed in spite of a
• 1:14:08
  Speaker 1: sense of relief caused by his words. I merely accepted
• 1:14:12
  Speaker 1: the world's report, she said, affecting a Noncolan air. The
• 1:14:16
  Speaker 1: world is a liar, as you will find in time,
• 1:14:19
  Speaker 1: was his abrupt reply. I hope to see this beautiful cousin, Paul.
• 1:14:24
  Speaker 1: Will she receive us as old friends of yours? Thanks
• 1:14:28
  Speaker 1: not yet, my lady, she is still too much a
• 1:14:30
  Speaker 1: stranger here to enjoy new faces, even kind ones. I
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 1: have promised perfect rest and freedom for a time, but
• 1:14:36
  Speaker 1: you shall be the first to whom she receives Again.
• 1:14:40
  Speaker 1: Lilian detected the secret disquiet which possessed him, and her
• 1:14:44
  Speaker 1: curiosity was roused. It piqued her that this Helen felt
• 1:14:48
  Speaker 1: no desire to meet her and chose to seclude herself
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 1: as if regardless of the interests and admiration she excited.
• 1:14:55
  Speaker 1: I will see her in spite of her refusal, for
• 1:14:58
  Speaker 1: I only caught a glimpse in the park. Something is wrong,
• 1:15:01
  Speaker 1: and I'll discover it, for it evidently worries Paul, and
• 1:15:04
  Speaker 1: perhaps I can help him. As this purpose sprang up
• 1:15:08
  Speaker 1: in the warm but wilful heart of the girl, she
• 1:15:10
  Speaker 1: regained her spirits and was her most charming self while
• 1:15:14
  Speaker 1: the young man stayed. They talked many things in a pleasant,
• 1:15:17
  Speaker 1: confidential manner, though when Lilian recalled that hour. She was
• 1:15:21
  Speaker 1: surprised to find how little Paul had really told them
• 1:15:24
  Speaker 1: of his past life or future plans. It was agreed
• 1:15:27
  Speaker 1: among them to say nothing of their former relations except
• 1:15:31
  Speaker 1: to Old Bedford, who was discretion itself, but to appear
• 1:15:34
  Speaker 1: to the world as new made friends, thus avoiding unpleasant
• 1:15:38
  Speaker 1: and unnecessary explanations which would only excite gossip. My lady
• 1:15:43
  Speaker 1: asked him to dine, but he had business out of
• 1:15:45
  Speaker 1: town and declined, taking his leave with a lingering look,
• 1:15:50
  Speaker 1: which made Lilian steal away to study her face in
• 1:15:53
  Speaker 1: the mirror and wonder if she looked her best, for
• 1:15:56
  Speaker 1: in Paul's eyes she had read undisguised admiration. Lady Trevelin
• 1:16:01
  Speaker 1: went to her room to rest, leaving the girl free
• 1:16:03
  Speaker 1: to ride, drive, or amuse herself as she liked. As
• 1:16:07
  Speaker 1: If fearing her courage would fail if she delayed, Lilian
• 1:16:11
  Speaker 1: ordered the carriage, and, bidding Hester Mount Guard over her,
• 1:16:14
  Speaker 1: she drove away to Saint John's Ward. Now, Hester, don't
• 1:16:18
  Speaker 1: lecture will be prim when I tell you that we
• 1:16:20
  Speaker 1: are going on a frolic, she began, after getting the
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 1: old woman into an amiable mood by every winning smile,
• 1:16:26
  Speaker 1: she could advise. I think you'll like it, and if
• 1:16:29
  Speaker 1: it's found out, I'll take the blame. There's some mystery
• 1:16:32
  Speaker 1: about Paul's cousin, and I'm going to find it out.
• 1:16:36
  Speaker 1: Bless you child. How she lives alone here, is seldom
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 1: seen and won't go anywhere or receive any one. That's
• 1:16:43
  Speaker 1: not natural in a pretty girl. Paul won't talk about her,
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 1: and though he's fond of her, he always looks grave
• 1:16:49
  Speaker 1: and grim when I ask questions. That's provoking and I
• 1:16:52
  Speaker 1: won't hear it. Maude is engaged to Raleigh, you know well.
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 1: He confided to her that he and a friend had
• 1:16:58
  Speaker 1: found out where Helen was, had gone to the next villa,
• 1:17:01
  Speaker 1: which is empty, and under pretense of looking at it,
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 1: got a peep at the girl in her garden. I'm
• 1:17:07
  Speaker 1: going to do the same. And what am I going
• 1:17:10
  Speaker 1: to do? Answered Hester, secretly relishing the prank, for she
• 1:17:14
  Speaker 1: was dying with curiosity to behold Paul's cousin. You are
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 1: to do the talking with the old woman and give
• 1:17:20
  Speaker 1: me a chance to look. Now, Say you will, and
• 1:17:23
  Speaker 1: I'll behave myself like an angel. In return, Hester yielded
• 1:17:27
  Speaker 1: after a few distreet scrapples, and when they reached Laburnum,
• 1:17:31
  Speaker 1: Lodge played her part so well that Lilian soon managed
• 1:17:34
  Speaker 1: to stray away into one of the upper rooms which
• 1:17:37
  Speaker 1: overlooked the neighbor and garden. Helen was there, and with
• 1:17:41
  Speaker 1: eager eyes, the girl scrutinized her. She was very beautiful
• 1:17:44
  Speaker 1: in that classical style, as fair and finely molded as
• 1:17:47
  Speaker 1: a statue, with magnificent dark hair and eyes, and possessed
• 1:17:51
  Speaker 1: of that perfect grace which is as effective as beauty.
• 1:17:55
  Speaker 1: She was alone, and when first scene was bending over
• 1:17:58
  Speaker 1: a flower, which she caressed and seemed to examine with
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 1: great interest as she stood a long time motionless before it.
• 1:18:06
  Speaker 1: Then she began to pace slowly around and around the
• 1:18:09
  Speaker 1: little grass plot, her hands hanging loosely clasped before her,
• 1:18:13
  Speaker 1: and her eyes fixed on vacancy, as if absorbed in thought.
• 1:18:18
  Speaker 1: But as the first effect of her beauty passed away,
• 1:18:22
  Speaker 1: Lilian found something peculiar about her. It was not the
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 1: somewhat foreign dress and ornaments she wore. It was in
• 1:18:29
  Speaker 1: her face, her movements, and the tone of her voice.
• 1:18:33
  Speaker 1: For as she walked she sang a low, monotonous song,
• 1:18:36
  Speaker 1: as if unconsciously. Lilian watched her keenly making the aimless
• 1:18:41
  Speaker 1: motions of the little hands, the apathy of the lovely face,
• 1:18:45
  Speaker 1: and the mirthless accent of the voice, but most of all,
• 1:18:48
  Speaker 1: the vacant fixture of the great dark eyes. Around and
• 1:18:52
  Speaker 1: around she went, with an elastic step and a mechanical regularity.
• 1:18:56
  Speaker 1: Wearisome to the witness. What is the matter with her?
• 1:19:00
  Speaker 1: Thought Lilian anxiously, as his painful impression increased with every
• 1:19:04
  Speaker 1: scrutiny of the unconscious girl. So abashed was she that
• 1:19:09
  Speaker 1: Hester's call was unheard, and Hester was unseen. As she
• 1:19:12
  Speaker 1: came and stood beside her, both looked a moment, and
• 1:19:15
  Speaker 1: as they looked, an old lady came from the house
• 1:19:18
  Speaker 1: and led Helen in, still murmuring her monotonous song and
• 1:19:21
  Speaker 1: moving her hands as if to catch and hold the sunshine.
• 1:19:25
  Speaker 1: Poor dear, poor dear, No wonder Paul turns sad and
• 1:19:29
  Speaker 1: won't talk of her, and that she don't see any one,
• 1:19:32
  Speaker 1: sighed Hester pitifully. What is it I see but don't understand,
• 1:19:39
  Speaker 1: whispered Lilian. She's an innocent, dearie, an idiot, though that's
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 1: a hard word for a pretty creature like her. How
• 1:19:48
  Speaker 1: terrible come away Hester and never breathe to anyone what
• 1:19:51
  Speaker 1: we've seen. And with a shudder and sense of pain
• 1:19:54
  Speaker 1: and pity lying heavy at her heart, she hurried away,
• 1:19:58
  Speaker 1: feeling doubly guilty in the discus of this affliction. The
• 1:20:02
  Speaker 1: thought of it haunted her continually, The memory of the
• 1:20:05
  Speaker 1: lonely girl gave her no peace, and her consciousness of
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 1: deceit burdened her unspeakably, especially in Pau's presents. This lasted
• 1:20:13
  Speaker 1: for a week, then Lilian resolved confess, hoping that when
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 1: he found she knew the truth, he would let her
• 1:20:19
  Speaker 1: share his cross and help to lighten it. Waiting her opportunity,
• 1:20:23
  Speaker 1: she seized a moment when her mother was absent, and
• 1:20:26
  Speaker 1: with her usual frankness, spoke out impetuously, Paul, I've done
• 1:20:32
  Speaker 1: wrong and I can have no peace till I am pardoned.
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 1: I have seen Helen. Where, when and how? He asked,
• 1:20:40
  Speaker 1: Looking disturbed and yet relieved, she told him rapidly, and
• 1:20:43
  Speaker 1: as she ended, she looked up at him with her
• 1:20:45
  Speaker 1: sweet face so full of pity, shame, and grief it
• 1:20:49
  Speaker 1: would have been impossible to deny her anything. Can you
• 1:20:54
  Speaker 1: forgive me for discovering this affliction? I think I could
• 1:20:58
  Speaker 1: forgive you for a far greater thought, Lilian, he answered,
• 1:21:01
  Speaker 1: in a tone that said many things. But deceit is
• 1:21:04
  Speaker 1: so mean, so dishonorable, and contemptible. How can you so
• 1:21:08
  Speaker 1: easily pardon me? She asked, quite overcome by this forgiveness
• 1:21:13
  Speaker 1: granted without any reproach. Then you would find it hard
• 1:21:18
  Speaker 1: to pardon such thing in another he said, with the
• 1:21:21
  Speaker 1: expression that always puzzled her. Yes, it would be hard,
• 1:21:25
  Speaker 1: But in those I loved, I could forgive much for
• 1:21:27
  Speaker 1: love's sake. With a sudden gesture, he took her hand,
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 1: saying impulsively, how little changed you are? Do you remember
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 1: that last ride of hours nearly five years ago? Yes, Paul,
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 1: she answered, with averted eyes. And what we talked of
• 1:21:43
  Speaker 1: a part of that childish gossip? I remember well which
• 1:21:47
  Speaker 1: part the pretty little romance? You told me? And Lilian
• 1:21:52
  Speaker 1: looked up, now longing to ask if Helen's childhood had
• 1:21:55
  Speaker 1: been blighted like her youth. Paul dropped her hand as
• 1:21:59
  Speaker 1: if he read her thoughts, and his own hand went
• 1:22:01
  Speaker 1: involuntarily toward his breast, betraying that locket still hung there.
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 1: What did I say, he asked, smiling at her sudden shyness.
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 1: You vowed you'd win and wed your fair little ladylove
• 1:22:14
  Speaker 1: if you lived, And so I will, he cried, with
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 1: sudden fire in his eyes. What marry her? Ay that
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 1: I will? Oh, Paul, will you tie yourself for life
• 1:22:26
  Speaker 1: to a The word died on her lips, but a
• 1:22:29
  Speaker 1: gesture of repugnance finished the speech. A what he demanded, excitedly,
• 1:22:36
  Speaker 1: an innocent one, bereft of reason, stammered Lilian entirely forgetting
• 1:22:41
  Speaker 1: herself in interest for him? Of whom do you speak?
• 1:22:45
  Speaker 1: Asked Paul, looking utterly bewildered, of poor Helen, Good heavens,
• 1:22:51
  Speaker 1: who told you that base lie? And his voice deepened
• 1:22:54
  Speaker 1: with indignant pain. I saw her. You did not deny
• 1:22:59
  Speaker 1: her affliction, hester said so, and I believed it. Have
• 1:23:02
  Speaker 1: I wronged her? Paul, Yes, cruelly she is blind? But
• 1:23:07
  Speaker 1: no idiot? Thank God. There was such earnestness in his voice,
• 1:23:12
  Speaker 1: such reproach in his words, and such ardor in his eye,
• 1:23:16
  Speaker 1: that Lilian's pride gave way, And with a broken entreaty
• 1:23:19
  Speaker 1: for pardon, she covered up her face, weeping the bitterest
• 1:23:22
  Speaker 1: tears she ever shed for in that moment, and the
• 1:23:25
  Speaker 1: sharp pang it brought her. She felt how much he
• 1:23:28
  Speaker 1: loved Paul, and how hard it was to lose him.
• 1:23:31
  Speaker 1: The childish affection had blossomed into a woman's passion, and
• 1:23:35
  Speaker 1: in a few short weeks had passed through many phases
• 1:23:37
  Speaker 1: of jealousy, hope, despair, and self delusion. The joy she
• 1:23:42
  Speaker 1: felt on seeing him again, the pride she took in him,
• 1:23:45
  Speaker 1: the disgust Helen caused her, the relief she had not
• 1:23:48
  Speaker 1: dared to own, even to herself, when she fancied fate
• 1:23:51
  Speaker 1: had put an insurmountable barrier between Paul and his cousin.
• 1:23:55
  Speaker 1: The despair at finding it only a fancy, and the
• 1:23:58
  Speaker 1: anguish of hearing him declare his own shaken purpose to
• 1:24:01
  Speaker 1: marry his first love. All these conflicting emotions had led
• 1:24:05
  Speaker 1: to this hard moment, and now self control deserted her
• 1:24:08
  Speaker 1: in her need. Inspite of her efforts, the passionate tears
• 1:24:12
  Speaker 1: would have their way. Though Poor soothed her with assurances
• 1:24:15
  Speaker 1: of entire forgiveness, promises of Helen's friendship, and every gentle
• 1:24:19
  Speaker 1: device he could imagine. She commanded herself at last by
• 1:24:23
  Speaker 1: a strong effort, murmuring eagerly as she shrank from the
• 1:24:26
  Speaker 1: hand that put back her fallen hair, and the face
• 1:24:30
  Speaker 1: so full of tender sympathy bending over her. I am
• 1:24:33
  Speaker 1: so grieved and ashamed at what I have said and done.
• 1:24:36
  Speaker 1: I shall never dare to see Helen forgive me and
• 1:24:39
  Speaker 1: forget this folly. I am sad and heavy hearted. Just
• 1:24:42
  Speaker 1: now it's the anniversary of Papa's death, and Mamma always
• 1:24:45
  Speaker 1: suffers so much. At such times did I get nervous?
• 1:24:49
  Speaker 1: It is your birthday also, I remembered it and ventured
• 1:24:52
  Speaker 1: to bring a little token in return for the one
• 1:24:54
  Speaker 1: you gave me long ago. This is a talisman, and
• 1:24:57
  Speaker 1: to morrow I will tell you the legend concerning wear
• 1:25:01
  Speaker 1: it for my sake, and God bless you dear. The
• 1:25:04
  Speaker 1: last words were whispered hurriedly. Lilian saw the glitter of
• 1:25:08
  Speaker 1: an antique ring, felt the touch of bearded lips on
• 1:25:11
  Speaker 1: her hand, and Paul was gone. But as he left
• 1:25:15
  Speaker 1: the house, he set his teeth examining load to himself. Yes,
• 1:25:20
  Speaker 1: tomorrow there will be an end of this. We must
• 1:25:22
  Speaker 1: risk everything and abide the consequences. Now I'll have no
• 1:25:25
  Speaker 1: more torment for any of us. End of chapter six.
• 1:25:30
  Speaker 1: Recording by Ashley Jane. Chapter seven of the mysterious Key
• 1:25:39
  Speaker 1: and what it opened? By Louise and may Alcott. This
• 1:25:42
  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter seven. The
• 1:25:47
  Speaker 1: secret key is Lady Trevlin at home? Bedford asked Paul,
• 1:25:51
  Speaker 1: as he presented himself at an early hour next day,
• 1:25:54
  Speaker 1: wearing the keen stern expression which made him look ten
• 1:25:57
  Speaker 1: years older than he was. No, my lady and Miss
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 1: Lilian went down to the hall last night. No ill news,
• 1:26:04
  Speaker 1: I hope, and the young man's eye kindled as if
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 1: he failed to crisis at hand, Not that I heard, sir.
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 1: Miss Lilian took one of her sudden whims and would
• 1:26:14
  Speaker 1: have gone alone if my lady hadn't given in much
• 1:26:16
  Speaker 1: against her will, this being a time when she is
• 1:26:19
  Speaker 1: better away from the place. Did they leave no message
• 1:26:23
  Speaker 1: for me? Yes, sir, Will you step in and read
• 1:26:26
  Speaker 1: the note at your ease. We are in sad confusion,
• 1:26:28
  Speaker 1: but this room is in order. Leading the way to
• 1:26:32
  Speaker 1: Lilian's boudoir. The man presented the note and retired a
• 1:26:35
  Speaker 1: few hasty lines from my lady, regretting the necessity of
• 1:26:39
  Speaker 1: this abrupt departure, yet giving no reason for it, Hoping
• 1:26:42
  Speaker 1: they might meet next season, but making no allusion to
• 1:26:45
  Speaker 1: seeing him at the hall, desiring Lilian's thanks and regards,
• 1:26:49
  Speaker 1: but closing with no hint of Helen except compliments. Paul
• 1:26:53
  Speaker 1: smiled as he threw it into the fire, saying to himself,
• 1:26:56
  Speaker 1: poor lady. She thinks she has escaped the danger by flying,
• 1:27:00
  Speaker 1: and Lilian tries to hide her trouble from me. Tender
• 1:27:03
  Speaker 1: little heart, I'll comfort it without delay. He sat looking
• 1:27:07
  Speaker 1: about the dainty room, still full of tokens of her presence.
• 1:27:11
  Speaker 1: The piano stood open with a song he liked. Upon
• 1:27:14
  Speaker 1: the rack. A bit of embroidery, whose progress he'd often watch,
• 1:27:18
  Speaker 1: lay in her basket, with the little thimble near it.
• 1:27:21
  Speaker 1: There was a strew of papers on the writing table,
• 1:27:24
  Speaker 1: torn notes, scraps of drawing and ball cards. A pale
• 1:27:28
  Speaker 1: colored glove lay on the floor, and in the grate
• 1:27:31
  Speaker 1: the faded flowers he had brought two days before. As
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 1: his eyes rove to and fro, he seemed to enjoy
• 1:27:37
  Speaker 1: some happy dream, broken too soon by the sound of
• 1:27:40
  Speaker 1: servants shutting up the house. He arose, but lingered near
• 1:27:44
  Speaker 1: the table, as if longing to search for some forgotten
• 1:27:46
  Speaker 1: hint of himself. No, there's been enough lock picking and
• 1:27:50
  Speaker 1: stealthy work. I'll do no more for her sake. This
• 1:27:53
  Speaker 1: stufft will harm no one, and tell no tales. And
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 1: snatching up the glove, Paul departed Helen. The time has come.
• 1:28:01
  Speaker 1: Are you ready, he asked, entering the room an hour later.
• 1:28:05
  Speaker 1: I am ready and rising. She stretched her hand to
• 1:28:08
  Speaker 1: him with a proud expression, contrasting painfully with her helpless gesture.
• 1:28:13
  Speaker 1: They have gone to the hall and we must follow.
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 1: It is useless to wait longer. We gain nothing by it,
• 1:28:18
  Speaker 1: and the claim must stand on such proof as we have,
• 1:28:21
  Speaker 1: or fall for want of that one link. I am
• 1:28:24
  Speaker 1: tired of disguise. I want to be myself and enjoy
• 1:28:27
  Speaker 1: what I have won, unless I lose it all, Paul.
• 1:28:31
  Speaker 1: Whatever happens, remember we cling together and share good or
• 1:28:34
  Speaker 1: evil fortune, as we always have done. I am a burden,
• 1:28:37
  Speaker 1: but I cannot live without you, for you are my
• 1:28:39
  Speaker 1: while do not desert me. She groped her way to
• 1:28:44
  Speaker 1: him and clung to his strong arm as if it
• 1:28:46
  Speaker 1: was her only stay. Paul drew her close, saying wistfully
• 1:28:49
  Speaker 1: as he caressed the beautiful, sightless face. Leaning on his shoulder,
• 1:28:53
  Speaker 1: Mere Khara, would it break your heart if at the
• 1:28:56
  Speaker 1: last hour, I gave up Paul and let the world
• 1:28:58
  Speaker 1: remain unspoken. My courage failed me, and in spite of
• 1:29:02
  Speaker 1: the hard past, I would gladly leave them in peace. No, no,
• 1:29:07
  Speaker 1: you shall not give it up, cried Helen, almost fiercely,
• 1:29:11
  Speaker 1: with the slumbering fire of her southern nature flashed into
• 1:29:14
  Speaker 1: her face. You have waited so long, worked so hard,
• 1:29:19
  Speaker 1: suffered so much. You must not lose your reward. You promised,
• 1:29:22
  Speaker 1: and you must keep the promise. But it is so beautiful,
• 1:29:26
  Speaker 1: so noble to forgive and return a blessing for a cast.
• 1:29:30
  Speaker 1: Let us bury the old feud and right the old
• 1:29:32
  Speaker 1: wrong in a new way. Those two were so blameless.
• 1:29:35
  Speaker 1: It is called to visit the sins of the dead
• 1:29:37
  Speaker 1: on their innocent heads. My lady has suffered enough already,
• 1:29:41
  Speaker 1: and Lilian is so young, so happy, so unfit to me.
• 1:29:45
  Speaker 1: A storm like this, Oh, Helen musty is more divine
• 1:29:48
  Speaker 1: than justice. Something moved poor deeply, and Helen seemed about
• 1:29:53
  Speaker 1: to yield when the name of Lilian wrought a subtle
• 1:29:56
  Speaker 1: change in her. The color died out her face, her
• 1:30:00
  Speaker 1: black eyes burned with a gloomy fire, and her voice
• 1:30:03
  Speaker 1: was relentless as she answered, while her frail hands held
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 1: him fast. I will not let you give it up.
• 1:30:09
  Speaker 1: We are as innocent as stay. We have suffered more,
• 1:30:12
  Speaker 1: and we deserve our rights, for we have no sin
• 1:30:15
  Speaker 1: to expiate. Go on, Paul, and forget the sentimental folly
• 1:30:19
  Speaker 1: that unmans you. Something in her words seemed to sting
• 1:30:23
  Speaker 1: or wound him. His face darkened, and he put her away, saying, briefly,
• 1:30:27
  Speaker 1: let it be so, then in an hour we must go.
• 1:30:32
  Speaker 1: On the evening of the same day, Lady Trevelin and
• 1:30:35
  Speaker 1: her daughter sat together in the octagon room at the hall.
• 1:30:38
  Speaker 1: Twilight was falling, and candles were not yet brought, but
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 1: a cheery fire blazed in the white chimney, filling the
• 1:30:45
  Speaker 1: apartment with a ruddy glow, turning Lilian's bright hair to gold,
• 1:30:49
  Speaker 1: and lending a tinge of color to my Lady's pallid cheeks.
• 1:30:54
  Speaker 1: The girl sat on a low lounging chair before the fire,
• 1:30:57
  Speaker 1: her head on her hands, her eyes on the red
• 1:31:00
  Speaker 1: embers her thoughts, where my lady lay on her couch,
• 1:31:05
  Speaker 1: a little in the shadow, regarding her daughter with an
• 1:31:07
  Speaker 1: anxious air, for over the young face a somber change
• 1:31:10
  Speaker 1: had passed which filled her with disquiet. You are out
• 1:31:15
  Speaker 1: of spirits, love, she said, at last, breaking the long silence,
• 1:31:18
  Speaker 1: as Lilian gave an unconscious sigh and leaned warily into
• 1:31:22
  Speaker 1: the depths of the chair. Yes, mamma, a little. What
• 1:31:26
  Speaker 1: is it? Are you ill? No, mamma, I think London
• 1:31:30
  Speaker 1: gaiety is rather too much for me. I'm too young
• 1:31:32
  Speaker 1: for it, as you often say, and I've found it
• 1:31:34
  Speaker 1: out then it is only wariness that makes you so
• 1:31:38
  Speaker 1: pale and grave and so bent on coming back here.
• 1:31:41
  Speaker 1: Lilian was the soul of truth, and with a moment's hesitation,
• 1:31:45
  Speaker 1: answered slowly, not that alone, mamma, I'm worried about other things.
• 1:31:51
  Speaker 1: Don't ask me what, please, but I must ask. Tell
• 1:31:55
  Speaker 1: me Charles, what things have you seen? Any one had
• 1:31:58
  Speaker 1: letters or been annoyed in any way about anything? My
• 1:32:03
  Speaker 1: lady spoke with sudden energy and rose on her arm,
• 1:32:06
  Speaker 1: eyeing the girl with unmistakable suspicion and excitement. No, mamma,
• 1:32:11
  Speaker 1: it's only a foolish trouble of my own, answered Lilian,
• 1:32:14
  Speaker 1: with a glance of surprise and a shameface, looked as
• 1:32:16
  Speaker 1: the words reluctantly left her lips. Ah, I love trouble.
• 1:32:21
  Speaker 1: Nothing more, thank God for that, And my lady sank
• 1:32:25
  Speaker 1: back as if a load was off her mind. Tell
• 1:32:27
  Speaker 1: me all, my darling, there is no confidant like a mother.
• 1:32:32
  Speaker 1: You are very kind, and perhaps you can cure my
• 1:32:34
  Speaker 1: folly if I tell it. And yet I am ashamed,
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 1: murmured the girl. Then, yielding to an irresistible impulse to
• 1:32:41
  Speaker 1: ask halp and sympathy, she added, in an almost inaudible tone,
• 1:32:45
  Speaker 1: I came away to escape from Paul. Because he loves you, Lilian,
• 1:32:50
  Speaker 1: asked my lady, with a frown and a half smile.
• 1:32:54
  Speaker 1: Because he does not love me, mamma. And the poor
• 1:32:57
  Speaker 1: girl hid her burning cheeks in her hands, as if
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 1: overwhelmed with maidenly shame at the implied confession of her
• 1:33:04
  Speaker 1: own affection. My child, how is this? I cannot but
• 1:33:08
  Speaker 1: be glad that he does not love you, Yet it
• 1:33:11
  Speaker 1: fills me with grief to see that this pains you.
• 1:33:13
  Speaker 1: He is not a mate for you, Lilian. Remember this,
• 1:33:16
  Speaker 1: and forget the transient regard that has sprung up from
• 1:33:19
  Speaker 1: that early intimacy of yours. He is well born and
• 1:33:23
  Speaker 1: now my equal in fortune, and owes so much my
• 1:33:26
  Speaker 1: superior and august of mind and heart. Sighed the girl,
• 1:33:30
  Speaker 1: still with hidden face. Her tears were dropping through her
• 1:33:33
  Speaker 1: slender fingers. It may be, but there is a mystery
• 1:33:37
  Speaker 1: about him, and I have a vague dislike to him
• 1:33:39
  Speaker 1: in spite of all that has passed. But darling, are
• 1:33:42
  Speaker 1: you sure he does not care for you? I fancied
• 1:33:45
  Speaker 1: I read a different story in his face. And when
• 1:33:47
  Speaker 1: you beg to leave town so suddenly, I believe that
• 1:33:50
  Speaker 1: you had seen this also, and kindly wish to spare
• 1:33:53
  Speaker 1: him any pain. It was to spare myself, o, mamma.
• 1:33:58
  Speaker 1: He loves Helen and will marry her, or oh she
• 1:34:00
  Speaker 1: is blind. He told me this with a look I
• 1:34:03
  Speaker 1: could not doubt, and so I came away to hide
• 1:34:05
  Speaker 1: my sorrow. Sobbed poor Lilian in despair. Lady Trevelin went
• 1:34:10
  Speaker 1: to her, and, laying the bright head on her motherly
• 1:34:13
  Speaker 1: Bosom said soothingly as she caressed it, My little girl,
• 1:34:17
  Speaker 1: it is too soon for you to know these troubles,
• 1:34:19
  Speaker 1: and I am punished for yielding to your entreaties for
• 1:34:22
  Speaker 1: a peep at the gay world. It is now too
• 1:34:25
  Speaker 1: late to spare you this. You have had your wish
• 1:34:28
  Speaker 1: and you must pay its price. Dear, But Lilian call
• 1:34:31
  Speaker 1: prior to aid you and conquer this fruitless love. It
• 1:34:34
  Speaker 1: cannot be very deep as yet, for you have known
• 1:34:36
  Speaker 1: poor the man too short a time to be hopelessly enarmored.
• 1:34:40
  Speaker 1: Remember there are others better, braver, more worthy of you.
• 1:34:45
  Speaker 1: That life is long and full of pleasure, yet untried.
• 1:34:49
  Speaker 1: Have no fears for me, mamma. I'll not disgrace you
• 1:34:52
  Speaker 1: all myself by any sentimental folly. I do love Paul,
• 1:34:55
  Speaker 1: but I can conquer it. And I will give me
• 1:34:59
  Speaker 1: a little time, and you shall see me quite myself again.
• 1:35:03
  Speaker 1: Lilian lifted her head with an air of proud resolve
• 1:35:06
  Speaker 1: that satisfied her mother, and with a grateful kiss, stole
• 1:35:09
  Speaker 1: away to ease her full heart alone. As she disappeared,
• 1:35:13
  Speaker 1: Lady Trevelin drew a long breath, and, clasping her hands
• 1:35:16
  Speaker 1: with a gesture of thanksgiving, murmured herself in an accent
• 1:35:20
  Speaker 1: of relief, only a love sorrow. I feared it was
• 1:35:24
  Speaker 1: some new terror like the old one. Seventeen years of silence,
• 1:35:28
  Speaker 1: seventeen years of secret, dread and remorse for me, she said,
• 1:35:32
  Speaker 1: pacing the room with tightly locked hands and eyes full
• 1:35:35
  Speaker 1: of unspeakable anguish. Oh Richard, Richard, I forgave you so
• 1:35:39
  Speaker 1: long ago, and surely I have expiated my innocent offense
• 1:35:43
  Speaker 1: by these years of suffering. For her sake, I did it,
• 1:35:46
  Speaker 1: and for her sake I still keep dumb. God knows
• 1:35:49
  Speaker 1: I ask nothing for myself but rest an oblivion by
• 1:35:52
  Speaker 1: your side. Half an hour later, Paul stood at the
• 1:35:56
  Speaker 1: hall door. It was a jar, for the family had
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 1: returned unexpectedly, as was evident from the open doors and
• 1:36:02
  Speaker 1: empty halls. Entering unseen, he ascended to the room my
• 1:36:05
  Speaker 1: lady usually occupied. The fire burned low. Lilian's chair was empty,
• 1:36:11
  Speaker 1: and my lady was asleep, as if lulled by the
• 1:36:14
  Speaker 1: sighing winds without and the deep silence that reigned within.
• 1:36:18
  Speaker 1: Paul stood, regarding her with a great pity, softening his
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 1: face as he marked the sunken eyes, pallid cheeks, locks
• 1:36:26
  Speaker 1: to early gray, and restless lips, muttering in dreams. I
• 1:36:30
  Speaker 1: wish I could spare her this, he sighed, stooping to
• 1:36:33
  Speaker 1: wake her with a word, but he did not speak,
• 1:36:36
  Speaker 1: for Suddenly clutching the chain about her neck, she seemed
• 1:36:39
  Speaker 1: to struggle with some invisible foe and beat it off,
• 1:36:42
  Speaker 1: muttering audibly as she clenched her thin hands on the
• 1:36:45
  Speaker 1: golden case. Paul leaned and listened, as if the first
• 1:36:50
  Speaker 1: word had turned him to stone, till the paroxysm had passed,
• 1:36:54
  Speaker 1: and with a heavy sigh, my lady sank into calmer sleep. Then,
• 1:36:59
  Speaker 1: with a quick glance over his shoulder, pulled skillfully opened
• 1:37:02
  Speaker 1: the locket, drew out the silver key, replaced it with
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 1: one from the piano close by, and stole from the
• 1:37:08
  Speaker 1: house noiselessly as he had entered it that night. In
• 1:37:12
  Speaker 1: the darkest hour before the dawn, a figure went gliding
• 1:37:15
  Speaker 1: through the shadowy park to its most solitary corner. Here
• 1:37:19
  Speaker 1: stood the tomb of the Treplins, and here the figure
• 1:37:22
  Speaker 1: passed A dull spark of light woke in its hand.
• 1:37:26
  Speaker 1: There was a clank of bars, the creak of rusty hinges.
• 1:37:29
  Speaker 1: Then light and figure both seemed swallowed. Up Standing in
• 1:37:33
  Speaker 1: the tomb, where the air was close and heavy, the
• 1:37:35
  Speaker 1: pale glimmer of the lantern showed paths and moldering coffins
• 1:37:39
  Speaker 1: in their niches, and everywhere lay tokens of decay and death.
• 1:37:44
  Speaker 1: The man drew his hat over his eyes and pulled
• 1:37:46
  Speaker 1: the muffer closer about his mouth, and surveyed the spot
• 1:37:50
  Speaker 1: with an undaunted aspect, though the beating of his heart
• 1:37:53
  Speaker 1: was hard in the deep silence. Nearest the door stood
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 1: a long casket, covered with black velvet and richly decorated
• 1:38:01
  Speaker 1: with silver ornaments, tarnished. Now the treadlings had been a
• 1:38:04
  Speaker 1: stalwart race, and the last sleeper drought there had evidently
• 1:38:08
  Speaker 1: been of goodly stature, for the modern coffin was as
• 1:38:11
  Speaker 1: ponderous as great oaken beds where lay the bones of generations.
• 1:38:16
  Speaker 1: Lifting the lantern, the intruder brushed the dust from the
• 1:38:19
  Speaker 1: shield shaped plate, read the name Richard Trevlin and a date, and,
• 1:38:24
  Speaker 1: as if satisfied, placed a key in the lock, half
• 1:38:28
  Speaker 1: raised the lid, and averting his eyes that he might
• 1:38:30
  Speaker 1: not see the ruin seventeen long years had made. He
• 1:38:34
  Speaker 1: laid his hand on the dead breast, and from the
• 1:38:36
  Speaker 1: folded shroud drew a mildewed paper. One glance was sufficed,
• 1:38:42
  Speaker 1: the cusket was relocked, the door rebarred, the light extinguished,
• 1:38:45
  Speaker 1: and the man vanished like a ghost in the darkness
• 1:38:48
  Speaker 1: of the wild October night. End of chapter seven. Recording
• 1:38:54
  Speaker 1: by Ashley Jane. Chapter eight of The Mysterious Key in
• 1:39:02
  Speaker 1: what it opened by Louisa may Alcott. This LibriVox recording
• 1:39:06
  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Chapter eight, which a gentleman
• 1:39:12
  Speaker 1: my lady taking a card from the silver salva, on
• 1:39:15
  Speaker 1: which the servant offered it. Lady Trevelin read poor Talbot,
• 1:39:19
  Speaker 1: and below the name these penciled words, I beseech you
• 1:39:23
  Speaker 1: to see me. Lilian stood beside her and saw the line.
• 1:39:27
  Speaker 1: Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such
• 1:39:30
  Speaker 1: a sudden glow of hope and love and longing that
• 1:39:33
  Speaker 1: the mother could not doubt or disappoint her. Wish I
• 1:39:36
  Speaker 1: will see him, she said. O, mamma, how kind you are,
• 1:39:41
  Speaker 1: cried the girl with a passionate embrace, adding breathlessly, he
• 1:39:45
  Speaker 1: did not ask for me. I cannot see him yet.
• 1:39:48
  Speaker 1: I'll hide in the alcove and can appear or run
• 1:39:50
  Speaker 1: away as I like, when we know why he comes.
• 1:39:54
  Speaker 1: They were in the library. For knowing Lilian's fondness for
• 1:39:57
  Speaker 1: the room, which had no dark memories for her, my
• 1:40:00
  Speaker 1: Lady conquered her dislike and often sat there. As she spoke.
• 1:40:04
  Speaker 1: The girl glided into the deep recess of a bay
• 1:40:07
  Speaker 1: window and drew the heavy curtains just as Paul's steps
• 1:40:10
  Speaker 1: sounded at the door, hiding her agitation with a woman's skill,
• 1:40:14
  Speaker 1: my lady rose with outstretched hand to welcome him. He bowed,
• 1:40:18
  Speaker 1: but did not take the hand, saying, in a voice
• 1:40:21
  Speaker 1: of grave respect, in which was audible an undertone of
• 1:40:24
  Speaker 1: strong emotion, pardon me, lady, trevelin hear what I have
• 1:40:28
  Speaker 1: to say, and then if you offer me your hand,
• 1:40:30
  Speaker 1: I shall gratefully receive it. She glanced at him and
• 1:40:34
  Speaker 1: saw that he was very pale, that his eye glittered
• 1:40:37
  Speaker 1: with suppressed excitement, and his whole manner was that of
• 1:40:40
  Speaker 1: a man who had nerved himself up to the performance
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 1: of a difficult but intensely interesting task. Fancying these signs
• 1:40:47
  Speaker 1: of agitation only natural in the young lover coming to
• 1:40:51
  Speaker 1: woo my lady smiled, reseated herself, and calmly answered, I
• 1:40:56
  Speaker 1: will listen patiently, speak freely, Paul, and remember I am
• 1:40:59
  Speaker 1: an old friend. I wish I could forget it, then
• 1:41:03
  Speaker 1: my task would be easier, he murmured in a voice
• 1:41:07
  Speaker 1: of mingled regret and resolution, as he leaned on a
• 1:41:10
  Speaker 1: tall chair opposite and wiped his damp forehead with a
• 1:41:13
  Speaker 1: look of such deep compassion that her heart sank with
• 1:41:16
  Speaker 1: a nameless fear. I must tell you a long story
• 1:41:20
  Speaker 1: and ask her forgiveness for the offenses I committed against
• 1:41:23
  Speaker 1: you when a boy, A mistaken sense of duty guided me,
• 1:41:27
  Speaker 1: and I obeyed it blindly. Now I see my error
• 1:41:30
  Speaker 1: and regret it, he said earnestly. Go On, replied my lady.
• 1:41:35
  Speaker 1: While the vague dread grew stronger, and she braced her
• 1:41:38
  Speaker 1: nerves as for some approaching shock. She forgot. Lilian forgot
• 1:41:42
  Speaker 1: everything but the strange aspect of the man before her,
• 1:41:45
  Speaker 1: and the words to which she listened like a statue,
• 1:41:48
  Speaker 1: still standing pale and steady. Paul spoke rapidly, while his
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 1: eyes were full of mingled sternness, pity, and remorse. Twenty
• 1:41:56
  Speaker 1: years ago, an English gentleman met a friend in a
• 1:41:58
  Speaker 1: little Italian town, where he married a beautiful wife. The
• 1:42:02
  Speaker 1: wife had a sister as lovely as herself, and the
• 1:42:04
  Speaker 1: young man, during that brief stay, loved and married her
• 1:42:08
  Speaker 1: in a very private manner, lest his father should disinherit him.
• 1:42:12
  Speaker 1: A few months passed and the englishman was called home
• 1:42:14
  Speaker 1: to take possession of his title and estates. The father
• 1:42:18
  Speaker 1: being dead, he went alone, promising to send for the wife.
• 1:42:21
  Speaker 1: When all was ready, he told no one of his marriage,
• 1:42:25
  Speaker 1: meaning to surprise his English friends by producing the lovely
• 1:42:28
  Speaker 1: woman unexpectedly. He had been in England but a short
• 1:42:31
  Speaker 1: time when he received a letter from the old priest
• 1:42:33
  Speaker 1: of the Italian town, saying the cholera had swept through it,
• 1:42:37
  Speaker 1: carrying off half its inhabitants, his wife and friend, among others.
• 1:42:42
  Speaker 1: This blow prostrated the young man, and when he recovered,
• 1:42:45
  Speaker 1: he hid his grief, shut himself up in his country house,
• 1:42:48
  Speaker 1: and tried to forget. Accident threw in his way another
• 1:42:51
  Speaker 1: lovely woman, and he married again. Before the first year
• 1:42:55
  Speaker 1: was out, the friend, whom he supposed was dead, appeared
• 1:42:58
  Speaker 1: and told him that his wife still lived and had
• 1:43:00
  Speaker 1: borne him a child. In the terror and confusion of
• 1:43:03
  Speaker 1: the plague, the priest has mistaken one sister for the other,
• 1:43:07
  Speaker 1: as the elder did die. Yes, yes, I know, go on,
• 1:43:11
  Speaker 1: gasped my lady with white lips and eyes that never
• 1:43:14
  Speaker 1: left the narrator's face. This f rend had met with
• 1:43:18
  Speaker 1: misfortune after flying from the doomed village with the surviving sister.
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 1: They had waited long for letters, had written, and when
• 1:43:26
  Speaker 1: no answer came, had been delayed by illness and poverty
• 1:43:29
  Speaker 1: from reaching England. At this time the child was born,
• 1:43:32
  Speaker 1: and the friend, urged by the wife and his own interest,
• 1:43:36
  Speaker 1: came here, learned that Sir Richard was married and hurried
• 1:43:39
  Speaker 1: to him in much distress. We can imagine the grief
• 1:43:43
  Speaker 1: and horror of the unhappy man in that interview. The
• 1:43:46
  Speaker 1: friend promised to leave all to sirve Richard to preserve
• 1:43:49
  Speaker 1: the secret till some means of relief could be found,
• 1:43:52
  Speaker 1: and with this promise he returned to guard and comfort
• 1:43:55
  Speaker 1: the forsaken wife. Sir Richard wrote the truth. The lady
• 1:43:59
  Speaker 1: tread Redvelin, meaning to kill himself as the only way
• 1:44:02
  Speaker 1: of escape from the terrible situation between two women, both
• 1:44:06
  Speaker 1: so beloved, both so innocently wronged. The pistol lay ready,
• 1:44:10
  Speaker 1: but death came without its aid, and Sir Richard was
• 1:44:13
  Speaker 1: spared the sin of suicide. Paul paused for breath, but
• 1:44:17
  Speaker 1: Lady Trevelin motioned him to go on, still sitting rigid
• 1:44:20
  Speaker 1: and white as the marble image near her. The friend
• 1:44:23
  Speaker 1: only lived to reach home and tell the story. It
• 1:44:26
  Speaker 1: killed the wife, and she died, imploring the old priest
• 1:44:29
  Speaker 1: to see her child writed and its father name secured
• 1:44:32
  Speaker 1: to it. He promised that he was poor, the child
• 1:44:36
  Speaker 1: was a frail baby, and he waited. Years passed, and
• 1:44:39
  Speaker 1: when the child was old enough to ask for its
• 1:44:41
  Speaker 1: parents and demand its due, the proofs of the marriage
• 1:44:44
  Speaker 1: were lost, and nothing remained but a ring, a bit
• 1:44:47
  Speaker 1: of writing, and the name. The priest was very old,
• 1:44:50
  Speaker 1: had neither friends, nor money, nor proofs to help him.
• 1:44:53
  Speaker 1: But I was strong and hopeful, and though a mere boy,
• 1:44:56
  Speaker 1: I resolved to do the work. I made my way
• 1:44:58
  Speaker 1: to England to trevelin hall, and by various stratagems, among
• 1:45:02
  Speaker 1: which I am ashamed to say were false keys and
• 1:45:05
  Speaker 1: feign sleep walking, I collected many proofs, but nothing which
• 1:45:09
  Speaker 1: would satisfy a court. For no one but you knew
• 1:45:12
  Speaker 1: where Sir Richard's confession was. I searched every knock and
• 1:45:15
  Speaker 1: corner of the hall, but in vain, and began to
• 1:45:18
  Speaker 1: despair when news of the death of father Cosmo recalled
• 1:45:21
  Speaker 1: me to Italy, for Helen was left to my care.
• 1:45:24
  Speaker 1: Then the old man had faithfully recorded the facts and
• 1:45:27
  Speaker 1: left witness to prove the truth of his story. But
• 1:45:30
  Speaker 1: for four years I never used it, never made any
• 1:45:33
  Speaker 1: effort to secure the title or estates, why not, breathed
• 1:45:38
  Speaker 1: my lady in a faint whisper, as hope suddenly revived
• 1:45:43
  Speaker 1: because I was grateful, and for the first time, Paul's
• 1:45:46
  Speaker 1: voice faltered. I was a stranger and you took me in.
• 1:45:50
  Speaker 1: I never could forget that, nor time many kindnesses bestowed
• 1:45:54
  Speaker 1: upon the friendless boy. This afflicted me even while I
• 1:45:58
  Speaker 1: was acting a false part, and when I was away,
• 1:46:01
  Speaker 1: my heart failed me. But Helen gave me no peace
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 1: for my sake. She urged me to keep the veil
• 1:46:07
  Speaker 1: made to that poor mother, and threatened to tell the
• 1:46:10
  Speaker 1: story herself. Talbot's benefaction left me no excuse for delaying longer,
• 1:46:15
  Speaker 1: and I came to finish the hardest task I can
• 1:46:17
  Speaker 1: ever undertake. I feared that a long dispute would follow
• 1:46:21
  Speaker 1: any appeal to law, and meant to appeal first to you,
• 1:46:24
  Speaker 1: But fate befriended me, and the last proof was found
• 1:46:29
  Speaker 1: found Where cried Lady Trevelin, springing up, aghast in, Sir
• 1:46:34
  Speaker 1: Richard Coffin, where you hid it, not darying to destroy,
• 1:46:37
  Speaker 1: yet fearing to keep it? Who has betrayed me? And
• 1:46:42
  Speaker 1: her eye glanced wildly about the room. As if she
• 1:46:44
  Speaker 1: feared to see some spectral accuser your own lips. My lady,
• 1:46:49
  Speaker 1: last night I came to speak of this. You lay asleep,
• 1:46:52
  Speaker 1: and in some troubled dream spoke of the paper safe
• 1:46:55
  Speaker 1: in its writer's keeping, and your strange treasure here, the
• 1:46:58
  Speaker 1: key of which you guarded daylight. I divined the truth,
• 1:47:02
  Speaker 1: remembering Hester's story, as I took the key from your
• 1:47:04
  Speaker 1: helpless hand, found the paper on Sir Richard's dead breast,
• 1:47:08
  Speaker 1: and now demand that you confess your part in this tragedy.
• 1:47:12
  Speaker 1: I do, I do? I confess, I yield, I relinquish everything,
• 1:47:16
  Speaker 1: and ask pity only for my child. Lady Trevelin fell
• 1:47:20
  Speaker 1: upon her knees before him, with a submissive gesture, but
• 1:47:23
  Speaker 1: imploring eyes. For amid the wreck of womanly pride and
• 1:47:27
  Speaker 1: wildly fortune, the mother's heart still clung to its idol.
• 1:47:31
  Speaker 1: Who should pity her? If not I? God knows, I
• 1:47:34
  Speaker 1: would have spared her this blow if I could. But
• 1:47:36
  Speaker 1: Helen would not keep silent, and I was driven to
• 1:47:39
  Speaker 1: finish what I had begun. Tell Lilian this, and do
• 1:47:43
  Speaker 1: not let her hate me. As Paul spoke tenderly, eagerly,
• 1:47:48
  Speaker 1: the curtain parted and Lilian appeared, trembling with the excitement
• 1:47:51
  Speaker 1: of that interview, but conscious of only one emotion, as
• 1:47:55
  Speaker 1: she threw herself into his arms, crying in a tone
• 1:47:58
  Speaker 1: of passionate delight. Brother, Now I may love you. Paul
• 1:48:03
  Speaker 1: held her close and for a moment forgot everything but
• 1:48:06
  Speaker 1: the joy of that moment. Lilian spoke first, looking up
• 1:48:10
  Speaker 1: through tears of tenderness. Her little hand lay caressingly against
• 1:48:13
  Speaker 1: his cheek as she whispered with sudden bloom in her
• 1:48:16
  Speaker 1: own Now I know why I loved you so well,
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 1: and now I can see you marry Helen without breaking
• 1:48:21
  Speaker 1: my heart. Oh, Paul, you are still mine, and I
• 1:48:25
  Speaker 1: care for nothing else but Lilian. I am not your brother. Then,
• 1:48:30
  Speaker 1: in Heaven's name, who are you, she cried, tearing herself
• 1:48:33
  Speaker 1: from his arms. Your love, her dear, Who then is
• 1:48:38
  Speaker 1: the heir? Demanded Lady Trevelin, springing up as Lilian turned
• 1:48:42
  Speaker 1: to seek shelter with her mother. I am Helen, spoke,
• 1:48:48
  Speaker 1: and Helen stood on the threshold of the door with
• 1:48:51
  Speaker 1: a hard, haughty look upon her beautiful face. You told
• 1:48:55
  Speaker 1: your story badly, Paul, she said, in a bitter tone.
• 1:48:58
  Speaker 1: You forgot me, forgot my affliction, my loneliness, my wrongs,
• 1:49:02
  Speaker 1: and the natural desire of a child to clear her
• 1:49:05
  Speaker 1: mother's honor and claim her father's name. I am Sir
• 1:49:08
  Speaker 1: Richard's eldest daughter. I can prove my birth, and I
• 1:49:12
  Speaker 1: demand my right with his own words to sustain me.
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 1: She paused, but no one spoke, and with a slight
• 1:49:18
  Speaker 1: tremor in her proud voice, she added, Paul has done
• 1:49:21
  Speaker 1: his work. He shall have the reward. I only want
• 1:49:25
  Speaker 1: my father's name. Title and fortune are nothing to one
• 1:49:28
  Speaker 1: like me. I coveted and claimed them that I might
• 1:49:31
  Speaker 1: give them to you. Paul, my one friend, always so
• 1:49:34
  Speaker 1: tender and so true, I'll have none of it, he answered,
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 1: almost fiercely. I have kept my promise, and then free
• 1:49:42
  Speaker 1: you chose to claim your own. Although I offered all
• 1:49:45
  Speaker 1: I had to buy your silence. It is yours by right.
• 1:49:48
  Speaker 1: Take it and enjoy it if you can. I'll have
• 1:49:51
  Speaker 1: no reward for work like this. He turned from her
• 1:49:55
  Speaker 1: with a look that would have stricken her to the heart.
• 1:49:57
  Speaker 1: Could she have seen it. She felt it and seemed
• 1:50:00
  Speaker 1: to augment some secret anguish, for she pressed her hands
• 1:50:03
  Speaker 1: against her bosom with an expression of deep suffering. Exclaiming passionately, Yes,
• 1:50:08
  Speaker 1: I will keep it, since I am to lose all else.
• 1:50:11
  Speaker 1: I am tired of pity. Power is sweet and I
• 1:50:14
  Speaker 1: will use it. Go Paul and be happy if you can,
• 1:50:17
  Speaker 1: with a nameless wife and the world's compassion or contempt
• 1:50:21
  Speaker 1: to sting your pride. Oh Lilian, where shall we go?
• 1:50:25
  Speaker 1: This is no longer our home? But who will receive us? Now?
• 1:50:28
  Speaker 1: Cried Lady Trevelin in a tone of despair, for her
• 1:50:31
  Speaker 1: spirit was utterly broken by the thought of the shame
• 1:50:34
  Speaker 1: and sorrow in store for this beloved and innocent child.
• 1:50:39
  Speaker 1: I will, and Paul's face shone with a love of
• 1:50:42
  Speaker 1: loyalty that could not doubt. My lady, you gave me
• 1:50:45
  Speaker 1: a home when I was homeless. Now let me pay
• 1:50:48
  Speaker 1: my debt. Lilian, I have loved you from the time
• 1:50:51
  Speaker 1: when a romantic boy I wore your little picture in
• 1:50:53
  Speaker 1: my breast and vow to win you if I lived.
• 1:50:56
  Speaker 1: I dared not speak before, But now, when other hearts
• 1:50:59
  Speaker 1: smell be shut against you, mine stands wide open to
• 1:51:02
  Speaker 1: welcome you. Come both, Let me protect and cherish you,
• 1:51:06
  Speaker 1: and so atone for the sorrow I have brought you.
• 1:51:09
  Speaker 1: It was impossible to resist, the sincere urgency of his voice,
• 1:51:13
  Speaker 1: the tender reverence of his manner. As he talked the
• 1:51:16
  Speaker 1: two forlorn yet innocent creatures into the shelter of his
• 1:51:19
  Speaker 1: strength and love, they clung to him, instinctively, feeling that
• 1:51:23
  Speaker 1: there still remained to them, one staunch friend whom adversity
• 1:51:28
  Speaker 1: could not estrange. An eloquent silence fell upon the room,
• 1:51:32
  Speaker 1: broken only by sobs, grateful whispers, and the voiceless vowls
• 1:51:36
  Speaker 1: that lovers plight with eyes and hands and tender lips.
• 1:51:39
  Speaker 1: Helen was forgotten till Lilian, whose elastic spirit threw off
• 1:51:43
  Speaker 1: sorrow as of flower sheds of rain, looked up to
• 1:51:46
  Speaker 1: thank Paul with smiles as well as tears, and saw
• 1:51:49
  Speaker 1: the lonely figure in the shadow. Her attitude was full
• 1:51:52
  Speaker 1: of pathetic significance. She still stood on the threshold, for
• 1:51:56
  Speaker 1: no one had welcomed her, and in the strange room
• 1:51:59
  Speaker 1: she knew not where to go. Her hands were clasped
• 1:52:02
  Speaker 1: before her face, as if those sightless eyes had seen
• 1:52:04
  Speaker 1: the joy she could not share. And at her feet
• 1:52:07
  Speaker 1: lay the time stained paper that gave her a barren tithood.
• 1:52:11
  Speaker 1: But no love had Lilian known how sharp a conflict
• 1:52:15
  Speaker 1: between passion and pride, jealousy and generosity was going on
• 1:52:19
  Speaker 1: in that young heart. She could not have spoken in
• 1:52:21
  Speaker 1: a tone of truer pity or sincere a good will
• 1:52:25
  Speaker 1: than that in which she softly said, poor girl, we
• 1:52:28
  Speaker 1: must not forget her, for with all her wealth, she
• 1:52:32
  Speaker 1: is poor compared to us. We both had one father
• 1:52:35
  Speaker 1: and should love each other in spite of this misfortune. Helen,
• 1:52:40
  Speaker 1: may I call you sister, not yet, wait till I
• 1:52:44
  Speaker 1: deserve it. As if that sweet voice had kindled an
• 1:52:48
  Speaker 1: answering spark of nobleness in her own heart, Helen's face
• 1:52:51
  Speaker 1: changed beautifully as she tore the paper to shreds, saying
• 1:52:54
  Speaker 1: in a glad impetuous tone, while the white flakes fluttered
• 1:52:58
  Speaker 1: from her hands. Aye, two can be generous, I too
• 1:53:02
  Speaker 1: can forgive. I bury the past. See I yield my claim,
• 1:53:06
  Speaker 1: I destroy my proofs. I promise eternal silence and keep
• 1:53:10
  Speaker 1: Paul's cousin for my only title. Yes, you are happy,
• 1:53:13
  Speaker 1: for you love one another, she cried, with a sudden
• 1:53:16
  Speaker 1: passion of tears. Oh forgive me, pity me and take
• 1:53:20
  Speaker 1: me in, for I am all alone and in the
• 1:53:22
  Speaker 1: dark there could be but one replied, to an appeal
• 1:53:26
  Speaker 1: like that, and they gave it as they welcomed her,
• 1:53:29
  Speaker 1: with words that sealed a household league of mutual secrecy
• 1:53:32
  Speaker 1: and sacrifice. They were happy for the world never knew
• 1:53:36
  Speaker 1: the hidden tide that bound them so faithfully together, never
• 1:53:40
  Speaker 1: learned how well their old prophecy had been fulfilled, or
• 1:53:43
  Speaker 1: guess what a tragedy of life and death the Silver
• 1:53:46
  Speaker 1: Key unlocked. End of Chapter eight recording by Ashley Jane.
• 1:53:53
  Speaker 1: End of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened by
• 1:53:55
  Speaker 1: Louisa May Alcott