The commissioner: or, de Lunatico inquirendo / With twenty-eight illustrations on steel by Phiz [i.e. H.K. Browne] [Anon].

  • George Payne Rainsford James
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The commissioner: or, de Lunatico inquirendo / With twenty-eight illustrations on steel by Phiz [i.e. H.K. Browne] [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    But at tlie same instant lie gnashed his teeth sliarply M'ith a gliastly shudder, and the eyes opened, but the sjiiiit was gone. In a moment after his bride was, to all appearance, as dead as she was, and those who were near bore her away to the cluunber of her cold widowhood, while the father of the dead man sat down by his head and wept. “ This is a sad and terrible thing,’’ said Tom Hamilton. “ It is indeed,” said Mr. Longslianks. “ Let it be as the voice of heaven to all that see it, warning them to repent while time is yet allowed them.” ‘‘Be comforted,” said Harry M'orrel, coming to the side of his uncle, and taking his hand with more tenderness than any thing but such misfortunes could have induced him to show towards one who had so cruelly treated his mother. “ Be comforted.” “ Oh, Harry Worrel, Harry Yvorrel!” said the old man, “ had he been the best son, the best friend, the best man the world ever pro- duced, I could be comforted. Doubtless, you think it is no great loss; but it is bitterer to me to see him lie there, and to know that he was what he was, than if 1 had lost all that could make a father’s heart proud. Talk not to me of comiort. I have nothing before me, but as hereto- fore, to drown care, to forget sorrow, to stiHe remorse. It is all in vain —it is all in vain. Give me a tumbler-full of v ine, Jerry Tripe ! This shall not get the better of me.” “ Nay, nay,” said Mr. Longshanks, interposing in a softer tone than he was accustomed to use, as the butler proceeded to obey his lord’s injunctions. “ Nay, nay; seek better comfort than that. Think of hereafter.” “What! think of that which shall condemn me?” cried the ])eer, angrily. “ How shall I seek comfort there ? Who will give it me ? Will that man?” and he pointed to Ur. Hookham, who stood not far off. “ Who can get comfort from such a thing as that ? I will tell you what. Longshanks ; a good clergyman is a blessing indeed—I am sure of it—I know it. If I liad had one near me, I should have been a better man. But a bad one is a curse; and I have found it so. Give me the wine, Jerry !” and he drank the tumbler-full down, and then filled another. “ There, go all away and leave me,” he cried: “the Avedding-day is over, the feast and the merriment at an end. Leave the old wretch in his den : there’s none of you love me or care for me now. Harry Worrel, you are my heir, and the barony too goes in the female line ; “ so, when you are Lord Fitr.urse, and live in Outrun Castle, mind you behave better than I have done Now go away with you all, aud leave me to myself.” “ 1 would fain stay Avith you, my dear lord,” rejdied Worrel, kindly. “ I am not only your heir, but your near relation—the only relation you have left, and I much Avish to comfort and console vou.” “ You are a good boy, Harry,” said the peer, shaking him by the hand, “and you shall come to me to-morrow. To-night it’s of no use. So leave me to myself and my own Avays, and go aAvay all of you. Take the murderer Avith you, but don’t do him any harm—mind you don’t do him any harm, for he is mad, and Avas A ery badly used, poor