“HARRIET GARTH.”

II

From Mr. Pendril to Miss Garth.

“Serle Street, January 4th, 1848.

“DEAR MISS GARTH—­Of Mrs. Noel Vanstone herself I have heard nothing.  But I have learned, since I saw you, that the report of the position in which she is left by the death of her husband may be depended upon as the truth.  No legacy of any kind is bequeathed to her.  Her name is not once mentioned in her husband’s will.

“Knowing what we know, it is not to be concealed that this circumstance threatens us with more embarrassment, and perhaps with more distress.  Mrs. Noel Vanstone is not the woman to submit, without a desperate resistance, to the total overthrow of all her schemes and all her hopes.  The mere fact that nothing whatever has been heard of her since her husband’s death is suggestive to my mind of serious mischief to come.  In her situation, and with her temper, the quieter she is now, the more inveterately I, for one, distrust her in the future.  It is impossible to say to what violent measures her present extremity may not drive her.  It is impossible to feel sure that she may not be the cause of some public scandal this time, which may affect her innocent sister as well as herself.

“I know you will not misinterpret the motive which has led me to write these lines; I know you will not think that I am inconsiderate enough to cause you unnecessary alarm.  My sincere anxiety to see that happy prospect realized to which your letter alludes has caused me to write far less reservedly than I might otherwise have written.  I strongly urge you to use your influence, on every occasion when you can fairly exert it, to strengthen that growing attachment, and to place it beyond the reach of any coming disasters, while you have the opportunity of doing so.  When I tell you that the fortune of which Mrs. Noel Vanstone has been deprived is entirely bequeathed to Admiral Bartram; and when I add that Mr. George Bartram is generally understood to be his uncle’s heir—­you will, I think, acknowledge that I am not warning you without a cause.  Yours most truly,

“WILLIAM PENDRIL.”

III.

From Admiral Bartram to Mrs. Drake (housekeeper at St. Crux).

“St. Crux, January 10th, 1848.

“MRS. DRAKE—­I have received your letter from London, stating that you have found me a new parlor-maid at last, and that the girl is ready to return with you to St. Crux when your other errands in town allow you to come back.

“This arrangement must be altered immediately, for a reason which I am heartily sorry to have to write.