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He found Miss Vere seated by the window of her dressing…room； her
head reclining on her hand； and either sunk in slumber； or so deeply
engaged in meditation； that she did not hear the noise he made at his
entrance。 He approached with his features composed to a deep
expression of sorrow and sympathy； and； sitting down beside her； solicited
her attention by quietly taking her hand； a motion which he did not fail to
accompany with a deep sigh。
〃My father！〃 said Isabella； with a sort of start； which expressed at
least as much fear； as joy or affection。
〃Yes； Isabella；〃 said Vere； 〃your unhappy father； who comes now as a
penitent to crave forgiveness of his daughter for an injury done to her in
the excess of his affection； and then to take leave of her for ever。〃
〃Sir？ Offence to me take leave for ever？ What does all this mean？〃
said Miss Vere。
〃Yes； Isabella； I am serious。 But first let me ask you； have you no
suspicion that I may have been privy to the strange chance which befell
you yesterday morning？〃
〃You； sir？〃 answered Isabella； stammering between a consciousness
that he had guessed her thoughts justly； and the shame as well as fear
which forbade her to acknowledge a suspicion so degrading and so
unnatural。
〃Yes！〃 he continued； 〃your hesitation confesses that you entertained
such an opinion； and I have now the painful task of acknowledging that
your suspicions have done me no injustice。 But listen to my motives。 In
an evil hour I countenanced the addresses of Sir Frederick Langley；
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conceiving it impossible that you could have any permanent objections to
a match where the advantages were； in most respects； on your side。 In a
worse； I entered with him into measures calculated to restore our banished
monarch； and the independence of my country。 He has taken advantage
of my unguarded confidence； and now has my life at his disposal。〃
〃Your life； sir？〃 said Isabella； faintly。
〃Yes； Isabella；〃 continued her father； 〃the life of him who gave life to
you。 So soon as I foresaw the excesses into which his headlong passion
（for； to do him justice； I believe his unreasonable conduct arises from
excess of attachment to you） was likely to hurry him； I endeavoured； by
finding a plausible pretext for your absence for some weeks； to extricate
myself from the dilemma in which I am placed。 For this purpose I
wished； in case your objections to the match continued insurmountable； to
have sent you privately for a few months to the convent of your maternal
aunt at Paris。 By a series of mistakes you have been brought from the
place of secrecy and security which I had destined for your temporary
abode。 Fate has baffled my last chance of escape； and I have only to give
you my blessing； and send you from the castle with Mr。 Ratcliffe； who
now leaves it； my own fate will soon be decided。〃
〃Good Heaven； sir！ can this be possible？〃 exclaimed Isabella。 〃O；
why was I freed from the restraint in which you placed me？ or why did
you not impart your pleasure to me？〃
〃Think an instant； Isabella。 Would you have had me prejudice in
your opinion the friend I was most desirous of serving； by communicating
to you the injurious eagerness with which he pursued his object？ Could I
do so honourably； having promised to assist his suit？But it is all over； I
and Mareschal have made up our minds to die like men； it only remains to
send you from hence under a safe escort。〃
〃Great powers！ and is there no remedy？〃 said the terrified young
woman。
〃None； my child；〃 answered Vere； gently； 〃unless one which you
would not advise your father to adoptto be the first to betray his friends。〃
〃O； no！ no！〃 she answered； abhorrently yet hastily； as if to reject
the temptation which the alternative presented to her。 〃But is there no
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THE BLACK DWARF
other hopethrough flightthrough mediation through supplication？I
will bend my knee to Sir Frederick！〃
〃It would be a fruitless degradation； he is determined on his course；
and I am equally resolved to stand the hazard of my fate。 On one condition
only he will turn aside from his purpose； and that condition my lips shall
never utter to you。〃
〃Name it； I conjure you； my dear father！〃 exclaimed Isabella。 〃What
CAN he ask that we ought not to grant； to prevent the hideous catastrophe
with which you are threatened？〃
〃That； Isabella；〃 said Vere； solemnly； 〃you shall never know； until your
father's head has rolled on the bloody scaffold； then； indeed； you will learn
there was one sacrifice by which he might have been saved。〃
〃And why not speak it now？〃 said Isabella； 〃do you fear I would
flinch from the sacrifice of fortune for your preservation？ or would you
bequeath me the bitter legacy of life…long remorse； so oft as I shall think
that you perished； while there remained one mode of preventing the
dreadful misfortune that overhangs you？〃
〃Then； my child；〃 said Vere； 〃since you press me to name what I
would a thousand times rather leave in silence； I must inform you that he
will accept for ransom nothing but your hand in marriage； and that
conferred before midnight this very evening！〃
〃This evening； sir？〃 said the young lady； struck with horror at the
proposal〃and to such a man！A man？a monster； who could wish to win
the daughter by threatening the life of the father it is impossible！〃
〃You say right； my child；〃 answered her father； 〃it is indeed impossible；
nor have I either the right or the wish to exact such a sacrificeIt is the
course of nature that the old should die and be forgot； and the young
should live and be happy。〃
〃My father die； and his child can save him！but nonomy dear
father； pardon me； it is impossible； you only wish to guide me to your
wishes。 I know your object is what you think my happiness；