But when YOU ask me what reason I
have heard assigned for Mr. Meltham's passing away from among men,
it is another thing. I am not gratifying idle gossip then. I was
told, Mr. Sampson, that Mr. Meltham had relinquished all his
avocations and all his prospects, because he was, in fact, broken-
hearted. A disappointed attachment I heard, - though it hardly
seems probable, in the case of a man so distinguished and so
attractive.'
'Attractions and distinctions are no armour against death,' said I.
'O, she died? Pray pardon me. I did not hear that. That, indeed,
makes it very, very sad. Poor Mr. Meltham! She died? Ah, dear
me! Lamentable, lamentable!'
I still thought his pity was not quite genuine, and I still
suspected an unaccountable sneer under all this, until he said, as
we were parted, like the other knots of talkers, by the
announcement of dinner:
'Mr. Sampson, you are surprised to see me so moved on behalf of a
man whom I have never known. I am not so disinterested as you may
suppose. I have suffered, and recently too, from death myself. I
have lost one of two charming nieces, who were my constant
companions.
Pages:
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29