settled a life. And there was danger abroad--danger that his brief
absence would remove. He had confided all his secrets to Lady Montfort;
she must look on that kind lady as her sole guardian till he return--as
return he surely would; and then they would live happy ever afterwards as
in fairy tales. He should never forgive her if she were silly enough to
fret for him. He should not be alone; Sir Isaac would take care of him.
He was not without plenty of money-savings of several months; if he
wanted more, he would apply to George Morley. He would write to her
occasionally; but she must not expect frequent letters; he might be away
for months--what did that signify? He was old enough to take care of
himself; she was no longer a child to cry her eyes out if she lost a
senseless toy, or a stupid old cripple. She was a young lady, and he
expected to find her a famous scholar when he returned." And so, with
all flourish and bravado, and suppressing every attempt at pathos, the
old man went his way, and Sophy, hurrying to Lady Montfort's, weeping,
distracted, imploring her to send in all directions to discover and bring
back the fugitive, was there detained a captive guest. But Waife left a
letter also for Lady Montfort, cautioning and adjuring her, as she valued
Sophy's safety from the scandal of Jasper's claim, not to make any
imprudent attempts to discover him. Such attempt would only create the
very publicity from the chance of which he was seeking to escape. The
necessity of this caution was so obvious that Lady Montfort could only
send her most confidential servant to inquire guardedly in the
neighbourhood, until she had summoned George Morley from Humberston,
and taken him into counsel. Waife had permitted her to relate to him,
on strict promise of secrecy, the tale he had confided to her. George
entered with the deepest sympathy into Sophy's distress; but he made her
comprehend the indiscretion and peril of any noisy researches. He
promised that he himself would spare no pains to ascertain the old man's
hiding-place, and see, at least, if he could not be persuaded either to