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accosted by a stranger； and answered ‘Yes。’
‘Something told me；’ he said； looking a compliment to her
beauty； ‘that it could be no other。 Miss Haredale； I bear a name
which is not unknown to you—which it is a pride； and yet a pain to
me to know； sounds pleasantly in your ears。 I am a man advanced
in life； as you see。 I am the father of him whom you honour and
distinguish above all other men。 May I for weighty reasons which
fill me with distress； beg but a minute’s conversation with you
here？’
Who that was inexperienced in deceit； and had a frank and
youthful heart； could doubt the speaker’s truth—could doubt it
too； when the voice that spoke； was like the faint echo of one she
knew so well； and so much loved to hear？ She inclined her head；
and stopping； cast her eyes upon the ground。
‘A little more apart—among these trees。 It is an old man’s hand；
Miss Haredale； an honest one； believe me。’
She put hers in it as he said these words； and suffered him to
lead her to a neighbouring seat。
‘You alarm me； sir；’ she said in a low voice。 ‘You are not the
bearer of any ill news； I hope？’
‘Of none that you anticipate；’ he answered； sitting down beside
her。 ‘Edward is well—quite well。 It is of him I wish to speak；
certainly； but I have no misfortune to communicate。’
She bowed her head again； and made as though she would have
begged him to proceed； but said nothing。
‘I am sensible that I speak to you at a disadvantage； dear Miss
Haredale。 Believe me that I am not so forgetful of the feelings of
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my younger days as not to know that you are little disposed to
view me with favour。 You have heard me described as cold…
hearted； calculating； selfish—’
‘I have never； sir；’—she interposed with an altered manner and
a firmer voice； ‘I have never heard you spoken of in harsh or
disrespectful terms。 You do a great wrong to Edward’s nature if
you believe him capable of any mean or base proceeding。’
‘Pardon me； my sweet young lady； but your uncle—’
‘Nor is it my uncle’s nature either；’ she replied； with a
heightened colour in her cheek。 ‘It is not his nature to stab in the
dark； nor is it mine to love such deeds。’
She rose as she spoke； and would have left him； but he detained
her with a gentle hand； and besought her in such persuasive
accents to hear him but another minute； that she was easily
prevailed upon to comply； and so sat down again。
‘And it is；’ said Mr Chester； looking upward； and apostrophising
the air； ‘it is this frank； ingenuous； noble nature； Ned； that you can
wound so lightly。 Shame—shame upon you； boy！’
She turned towards him quickly； and with a scornful look and
flashing eyes。 There were tears in Mr Chester’s eyes； but he
dashed them hurriedly away； as though unwilling that his
weakness should be known； and regarded her with mingled
admiration and compassion。
‘I never until now；’ he said； ‘believed； that the frivolous actions
of a young man could move me like these of my own son。 I never
knew till now； the worth of a woman’s heart； which boys so lightly
win； and lightly fling away。 Trust me； dear young lady； that I never
until now did know your worth； and though an abhorrence of
deceit and falsehood has impelled me to seek you out； and would
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have done so had you been the poorest and least gifted of your sex；
I should have lacked the fortitude to sustain this interview could I
have pictured you to my imagination as you really are。’
Oh！ If Mrs Varden could have seen the virtuous gentleman as
he said these words； with indignation sparkling from his eyes—if
she could have heard his broken； quavering voice—if she could
have beheld him as he stood bareheaded in the sunlight； and with
unwonted energy poured forth his eloquence！
With a haughty face； but pale and trembling too； Emma
regarded him in silence。 She neither spoke nor moved； but gazed
upon him as though she would look into his heart。
‘I throw off；’ said Mr Chester； ‘the restraint which natural
affection would impose on some men； and reject all bonds but
those of truth and duty。 Miss Haredale； you are deceived； you are
deceived by your unworthy lover； and my unworthy son。’
Still she looked at him steadily； and still said not one word。
‘I have ever opposed his professions of love for you； you will do
me the justice； dear Miss Haredale； to remember that。 Your uncle
and myself were enemies in early life； and if I had sought
retaliation； I might have found it here。 But as we grow older； we
grow wiser—bitter； I would fain hope—and from the first； I have
opposed him in this attempt。 I foresaw the end； and would have
spared you； if I could。’
‘Speak plainly； sir；’ she faltered。 ‘You deceive me； or are
deceived yourself。 I do not believe you—I cannot—I should not。’
‘First；’ said Mr Chester； soothingly； ‘for there may be in your
mind some latent angry feeling to which I would not appeal； pray
take this letter。 It reached my hands by chance； and by mistake；
and should have accounted to you （as I am told） for my son’s not
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answering some other note of yours。 God forbid； Miss Haredale；’
said the good gentleman； with great emotion； ‘that there should be
in your gentle breast one causeless ground of quarrel with him。
You should know； and you will see； that he was in no fault here。’
There appeared something so very candid； so scrupulously
honourable； so very truthful and just in this course something
which rendered the upright person who resorted to it； so w