[figure description] Page 154.[end figure description]

As evening approached, Earle dressed himself
in his full uniform of a captain in
the French navy, buckled on his belt and
pistols, and, wrapping his cloak around
him, turned to the recluse.

“I am going to be absent for an hour, my
mother,” he said. “A last duty makes this
necessary. Be not afraid: I will soon return,
and then I will renew my persuasions to induce
you to embark with me for France. Reflect that
it will make me very happy, mother; and the
good God watch over you.”

He left the hut. The recluse had made no
response. Bending down and weeping silently,
she presented an appearance of the deepest dejection.

[figure description] Page 155.[end figure description]

Earle threw a last tender glance toward her,
and disappeared in the dusk of evening.

He followed the path leading down the headland,
in the direction of Maverick House; and
just as Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke, with his
party, left Westbrooke Hall in pursuit of him,
entered the Maverick woods, half a league from
the mansion.

As he went on with firm tread, and an expression
of stern resolution upon his features, he
muttered to himself, —

“Yes: this is a duty, and I will not leave the
country without performing it. Chance has
placed me in possession of a secret intimately
concerning Arthur Maverick, the man who has
called me friend, and his household; a murderer
is about to enter that household as the
husband of one of the family whose head he
has assassinated. I alone, besides the gypsy,
who has disappeared, can warn the victim. I
swear I will do so, and from a sense of duty,
not in the least from a mean jealousy; and then,
if the marriage takes place, let it take place.”

He went on rapidly. Pale and thin as he
was, it was evident that his physical vigor was
nearly unabated.

“Jealousy!” he muttered as he proceeded

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beneath the huge boughs, toward Maverick
House,—“jealousy! oh, no! I swear that I am
not in the least jealons. The love I had for
that woman is dead. She made me crazy for a
time; but I have become sane. I can see now—
thanks to the hours of meditation and recollecon
my sick couch—that she is false, acted a
part with me, lured me on to gratify a poor
sentiment of vanity; and when she had entrapped
me, and driven me to an avowal, threw
me away without a thought or care for me.

“Fool that I was to imagine that the poor
stranger could compete with the rich baronet in
madam's eyes. Fool, above all, to give my love
to a thing of deception, false as the sea. As
the sea? I do it wrong. It is changeable
and dangerous, but makes no protestations.
You embark on it with a knowledge of its
perils. This woman's glance and smile said,
`There is no danger with me.' They fooled me.
I was her slave. I am free now; and I am not
jealous. Were she to hold out her hand now, I
would not take it, for I know her. Fool! to pass
by that pure flower, Arthur Maverick's sister,
and bestow my love upon this quicksand, Arthur
Maverick's cousin. But it is over—all that
madness. I care not if she marry the assassin

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and monster. It is to save Arthur Maverick,
my friend, that I go to warn him, and to speak
in my own name and character. There is the
house, here is the wall: in ten minutes I shall
be there.”

As he spoke, rapid steps were heard on the
path behind him, and he turned round.

Through the dim light a man was seen running
towards him, and he drew his pistol.

“Don't shoot, brother. I am a friend!”
said the pursuer.

And the gypsy reached him.

“Take care, brother!” he said; “Sir Murdaugh
Westbrooke is on your track!”

p517-163

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