"You go to the door, Stephen," she whispered, while an icy
coldness crept over her.
He obeyed, and bending forward in a listening attitude she heard
him say, "Good evening, Mr. Hamilton."
Just then, a telegraphic look between Mr. Hastings and Dora caught
her eye, and springing to her feet, she exclaimed, "_Mr.
Hamilton!_" while a suspicion of the truth flashed like
lightning upon her. The next moment he stood before them, Uncle
Nat, his glittering black eyes fixed upon Eugenia, who quailed
beneath that withering glance.
"_I promised yon I would come to-night_" he said, "_and I
am here, Nathaniel Deane! Are you glad to see me?_" and his
eyes never moved from Eugenia, who sat like one petrified, as did
her mother and sister. "Have you no word of welcome??" he
continued. "Your letters were wont to be kind and affectionate. I
have brought them with me, as a passport to you friendship. Shall
I show them to you?"
His manner was perfectly cool and collected, but Eugenia felt the
sting each word implied, and, starting up, she glared defiantly at
him, exclaiming, "Insolent wretch! What mean you by this? And what
business had you thus to deceive us?"
"The fair Eugenia does not believe in _deceit_, it seems.
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