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It will make it truly uncomfortable; but, I cannot help myself.
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What force they have, I know not; indeed, I am totally ignorant: some say, nine sail of the line; some, seven; some, five.
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Pasqual lives with the Duke Montelione; and Joseph, with the old Russian.
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Mr. Elliot is happy, has quite recovered his spirits; he was very low, at Portsmouth.
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This place is the devil's, for dreadful colds: and I don't believe I should get well all the winter; for both cough, and bowels, are still very much out of order.
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I am, you may believe, very anxious to get off Toulon, to join the fleet.
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Therefore, as you change, make Davison take a direction to Nepean; but, I would not trouble him with too many directions, for fear of embroil.
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However, I hope they will come out, and let us settle the matter.
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If the wind stands, on Tuesday we shall be on the coast of Portugal; and, before next Sunday, in the Mediterranean.
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I shall now stop, till I have been on board the Admiral.
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I assure you, my dear Emma, that I feel a thorough conviction, that we shall meet again, with honour, riches, and health, and remain together till a good old age.
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I have much to do, being the last day on board; but ever, my dearest friend, believe me your truly affectionate
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I am literally starving with cold; but my heart is warm.
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You are now writing your last letter for Deal; so am I, for Merton, from Deal: at least, I hope so; for, if I can help it, I will not return to it.
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You will readily believe, how rejoiced I shall be to get one of your dear, excellent letters, that I may know every thing which has passed since my absence.
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I sincerely hope, that Mr. Booth has settled all your accounts.
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I am just embarking in the Amphion; cannot find Admiral Cornwallis.
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I suppose I shall dine with Lutwidge: but I am not very desirous of it; for I shall have Sutton, Bedford, and Hardy, with me.
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I am sorry to tell you, that Dr. Baird is so ill, that I am told it is very probable he may never recover.
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Independence is a blessing; and, although I have not yet found out the way to get prize money--what has been taken, has run into our mouths--however, it must turn out very hard, if I cannot get enough to pay off my debts, and that will be no small comfort.
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He has marched thirteen thousand men into the kingdom, on the Adriatic side; and he will take possession, with as much shadow of right, of Gaeta and Naples: and, if the poor King remonstrates, or allows us to secure Sicily, he will call it war, and declare a conquest.
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You will only shew the King and Queen's letters to some few particular friends.
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Old Antonio was allowed a carline a day; that is, now, not paid.
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Be assured, that my attachment, and affectionate regard, is unalterable; nothing can shake it!
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Pondering on this and trying to find some meaning in it, occupied his thoughts till he joined Mimi and Sir Nathaniel at breakfast. They began the meal in silence.
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She had not forgotten--and never would--never could--the occasion when, to harm Lilla, the woman had consorted even with the nigger.
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Mimi, towards whom the draught from the open door wafted the smoke, rose up choking, and ran to the inner door, which she threw open to its fullest extent, disclosing on the outside a curtain of thin silk, fixed to the doorposts.
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Denser and denser grew the smoke, and more acrid its smell.
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Suffice it that she does know--perhaps it is all the better and safer for us."
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Sir Nathaniel seemed just as usual--suave, dignified, and thoughtful--perfect master of himself.
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"I have arranged with Adam certain signals which may be necessary if certain eventualities occur.
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Something in the sight alarmed him, and he quietly stood near the door.
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Do not be surprised if, whilst we are at Diana's Grove, occasional messages come for you--for all or any of us."
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To her husband, it was evident that Mimi was ill at ease.
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Whatever she may attempt to-day, of harm to any of us, will be in the way of secret plot.
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Adam caught her other hand, and between them they drew her through the outer door which the servants were beginning to close.
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The White Worm will not try force, though she has so much of it to spare.
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Sir Nathaniel, who was sitting close to Mimi, rose to his feet, and, crying, "Quick!" caught hold of her hand and began to drag her from the room.
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In a moment he had raised her up, and together they rushed out through the open door into the sunlight, Sir Nathaniel close behind them.
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The doors of the drawing-room were thrown open, and Lady Arabella came forth and offered them cordial welcome.
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After all, she is only a snake and with a snake's nature, which is to keep low and squirm, and proceed by stealth and cunning.
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Lady Arabella, whose face had blanched to a deadly white, now resumed her ministrations at the tea-board as though nothing unusual had happened. The slop-basin was full of half-burned brown paper, over which tea had been poured.
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It would be foolish to say that neither Adam nor Mimi had any fear in returning to Doom Tower.
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We must try to pass off such moments with an appearance of unconcern.
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They each had something to say of her, and of what her wishes or intentions were towards Edgar Caswall. Mimi spoke bitterly of her in every aspect.
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The peaceful night had a good effect on them all; danger, being unseen, seemed far off.
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As a social matter, she was disgusted with her for following up the rich landowner--"throwing herself at his head so shamelessly," was how she expressed it.
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"She asks Mimi and me to tea this afternoon at Diana's Grove, and hopes that you also will favour her."
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He made no movement, even of his eyes, but he could see that Sir Nathaniel was watching him intently, and, he fancied, with approval.
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However, she was braced up for a trial, and she felt assured that whatever might come she would be able to go through with it.
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The two men held Mimi between them, the arms of both of them round her as though protectingly. As they went, there was a sudden rise in the ground; but the horses, breathing heavily, dashed up it at racing speed, not slackening their pace when the hill fell away again, leaving them to hurry along the downgrade.
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What had been had been, and was known to them all.
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She did not attempt to peep out of the window; but Adam did--and saw nothing.
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Some other time she may try force, but--if I am able to judge such a thing--not to-day. The messengers who may ask for any of us will not be witnesses only, they may help to stave off danger." Seeing query in her face, he went on: "Of what kind the danger may be, I know not, and cannot guess.
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Suddenly, without any seeming cause, the light in the room began to grow dim.
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She is not nearly so dangerous in the open as when she has the dark to protect her.
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Besides, we know, by our own experience of her movements, that for some reason she shuns publicity.
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To her, the attitude of Lady Arabella seemed compounded of social sweetness and personal consideration.
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This creature is a monster without heart or consideration for anything or anyone.
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When Adam saw Mimi slip, he flung himself backward, still holding her. His weight told, and he dragged her up from the hole and they fell together on the floor outside the zone of slipperiness.
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Every nerve of the horses was strained as they dashed recklessly along the road.
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Adam said nothing, but silently held out his hand, which his companion shook: no words were necessary.
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Don't lose a second, even if you have to make a scene.
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Both managed to follow his example, to the wonderment of the footmen, who saw the three who had just escaped a terrible danger walking together gaily, as, under the guiding pressure of Sir Nathaniel's hand, they turned to re- enter the house.
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"Certainly, my dear, in the present circumstances publicity is a part of safety.
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It would be hard to imagine more thoughtful and tender kindness towards an honoured guest.
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Before they came to the gate, Sir Nathaniel turned to Mimi.
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"But," said Adam, "how could she have known we were here?
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Still she bore up bravely, and as usual the effort was helpful to her.
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She was interested to know that the great kite still flew from Caswall's tower.
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They were all pale except the old diplomatist, who looked both calm and cool.
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Moreover, she will not be able to understand our reason for doing so, and her own bad conscience--if she has any, bad or good--and her own fears and doubts will play our game for us.
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"General process of reasoning, my boy; and the experience of some years in the diplomatic world.
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In due course, they set out in a carriage drawn by a fine pair of horses, who soon devoured the few miles of their journey.
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It sustained and cheered Adam and his wife to see him thus master of himself.
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A fillip was given to the conversation when Adam told of his seeing Lady Arabella, on her way to Castra Regis.
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When it was getting near tea-time, Mimi asked Sir Nathaniel how they were going.
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What he did see, to his wonder and concern, on his returning homeward, was Lady Arabella, in her tight-fitting white dress and ermine collar, but without her emeralds; she was emerging from the gate of Diana's Grove and walking towards the Castle.
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She will never attack when she can run away, although she knows well that running away would probably be fatal to her.
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While she was doing this, the servants closed all the doors of the suite of rooms, as well as that which opened from the room outside--that of the well-hole into the avenue.
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It will doubtless be some ordinary circumstance; but none the less dangerous on that account.
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Sir Nathaniel was in the library next morning, after breakfast, when Adam came to him carrying a letter.
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When once she was in the study in the top of the turret, she almost forgot the terrors which lay outside in the dark.
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Then she ran through the still open door, heedless of the fact that she could not see where she was going. Adam, followed by Sir Nathaniel, rushed forward and joined her--Adam catching his wife by the arm and holding her tight.
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The postillion plied whip and spur, and the vehicle, rocking with its speed, swept through the gate and tore up the road.
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This having been got over, Lady Arabella led them into another room where tea was served.
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But bear in mind that if I ask you or Adam to do anything, do not lose a second in the doing of it.
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They all sat near the table spread for tea, Adam still near the door. Lady Arabella fanned herself, complaining of heat, and told one of the footmen to throw all the outer doors open.
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When I give my hand to your wife to lead her out, come with us--and caution her to hurry.
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Adam read this over several times, and then, his mind being made up, he went to Mimi and asked if she had any objection.
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Anyone owning real estate on which china clay can be discovered strikes a sort of gold mine."
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Now, the clay is easily penetrable, and the original hole probably pierced a bed of china clay.
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To destroy such a monster is something like one of the labours of Hercules, in that not only its size and weight and power of using them in little-known ways are against you, but the occult side is alone an unsurpassable difficulty. The Worm is already master of all the elements except fire--and I do not see how fire can be used for the attack.
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I should be willing to sell the place for any fair price--so long, of course, as the purchaser was one I liked and of whom I approved.
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But if it has to tear down so many feet of precipice, it may wreck the whole neighbourhood."
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She answered--after a shudder--that she was, in this, as in all things, willing to do whatever he might wish.
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If you want more money than is immediately convenient, let me know, so that I may be your banker."
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Mr. Salton was delighted to find his young relative already constructively the owner of so fine an estate--one which gave him an important status in the county. He made many anxious enquiries about Mimi, and the doings of the White Worm, but Adam reassured him.
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"The property is historic, and as time goes on it will increase in value. Moreover, I may tell you something, which indeed is only a surmise, but which, if I am right, will add great value to the place." Adam listened. "Has it ever struck you why the old name, 'The Lair of the White Worm,' was given?
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We are in the hands of God, and He has hitherto guided us, and will do so to His own end."
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