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inheriting the great Armadale property； and my taking the fatal
Armadale name。
〃I am the only surviving son of the late Mathew Wrentmore； of
Barbadoes。 I was born on our family estate in that island； and I
lost my father when I was still a child。 My mother was blindly
fond of me； she denied me nothing； she let me live as I pleased。
My boyhood and youth were passed in idleness and self…indulgence；
among peopleslaves and half…castes mostlyto whom my will was
law。 I doubt if there is a gentleman of my birth and station in
all England as ignorant as I am at this moment。 I doubt if there
was ever a young man in this world whose passions were left so
entirely without control of any kind as mine were in those early
days。
〃My mother had a woman's romantic objection to my father's homely
Christian name。 I was christened Allan； after the name of a
wealthy cousin of my father'sthe late Allan Armadalewho
possessed estates in our neighborhood； the largest and most
productive in the island； and who consented to be my godfather by
proxy。 Mr。 Armadale had never seen his West Indian property。 He
lived in England； and； after sending me the customary godfather's
present； he held no further communication with my parents for
years afterward。 I was just twenty…one before we heard again from
Mr。 Armadale。 On that occasion my mother received a letter from
him asking if I was still alive； and offering no less （if I was）
than to make me the heir to his West Indian property。
〃This piece of good fortune fell to me entirely through the
misconduct of Mr。 Armadale's son； an only child。 The young man
had disgraced himself beyond all redemption； had left his home an
outlaw； and had been thereupon renounced by his father at once
and forever。 Having no other near male relative to succeed him；
Mr。 Armadale thought of his cousin's son and his own godson； and
he offered the West Indian estate to me； and my heirs after me；
on one conditionthat I and my heirs should take his name。 The
proposal was gratefully accepted； and the proper legal measures
were adopted for changing my name in the colony and in the mother
country。 By the next mail information reached Mr。 Armadale that
his condition had been complied with。 The return mail brought
news from the lawyers。 The will had been altered in my favor； and
in a week afterward the death of my benefactor had made me the
largest proprietor and the richest man in Barbadoes。
〃This was the first event in the chain。 The second event followed
it six weeks afterward。
〃At that time there happened to be a vacancy in the clerk's
office on the estate； and there came to fill it a young man about
my own age who had recently arrived in the island。 He announced
himself by the name of Fergus Ingleby。 My impulses governed me in
everything； I knew no law but the law of my own caprice； and I
took a fancy to the stranger the moment I set eyes on him。 He had
the manners of a gentleman； and he possessed the most attractive
social qualities which； in my small experience； I had ever met
with。 When I heard that the written references to character which
he had brought with him were pronounced to be unsatisfactory； I
interfered； and insisted that he should have the place。 My will
was law； and he had it。
〃My mother disliked and distrusted Ingleby from the first。 When
she found the intimacy between us rapidly ripening； when she
found me admitting this inferior to the closest companionship and
confidence （I had lived with my inferiors all my life； and I
liked it）； she made effort after effort to part us； and failed in
one and all。 Driven to her last resources； she resolved to try
the one chance leftthe chance of persuading me to take a voyage
which I had often thought ofa voyage to England。
〃Before she spoke to me on the subject； she resolved to interest
me in the idea of seeing England； as I had never been interested
yet。 She wrote to an old friend and an old admirer of hers； the
late Stephen Blanchard； of Thorpe Ambrose； in Norfolka
gentleman of landed estate； and a widower with a grown…up family。
After…discoveries informed me that she must have alluded to their
former attachment （which was checked； I believe； by the parents
on either side）； and that； in asking Mr。 Blanchard's welcome for
her son when he came to England； she made inquiries about his
daughter； which hinted at the chance of a marriage uniting the
two families； if the young lady and I met and liked one another。
We were equally matched in every respect； and my mother's
recollection of her girlish attachment to Mr。 Blanchard made the
prospect of my marrying her old admirer's daughter the brightest
and happiest prospect that her eyes could see。 Of all this I knew
nothing until Mr。 Blanchard's answer arrived at Barbadoes。 Then
my mother showed me the letter； and put the temptation which was
to separate me from Fergus Ingleby openly in my way。
〃Mr。 Blanchard's letter was dated from the Island of Madeira。 He
was out of health； and he had been ordered there by the doctors
to try the climate。 His daughter was with him。 After heartily
reciprocating all my mother's hopes and wishes； he proposed （if I
intended leaving Barbadoes shortly） that I should take Madeira on
my way to England； and pay him a visit at his temporary residence
in the island。 If this could not be； he mentioned the time at
which he expected to be back in England； when I might be sure of
finding a welcome at his own house of Thorpe Ambrose。 In
conclusion； he apologized for not writing at greater length；
explaining that his sight was affected； and that he had disobeyed
the doctor's orders by yielding to the temptation of writing to
his old friend with his own hand。
〃Kindly as it was expressed； the letter itself might have had
little influence on me。 But there was something else besides the
letter； there was inclosed in it a miniature portrait of Miss
Blanchard。 At the back of the portrait； her father had written；
half…jestingly； half…tenderly； 'I can't ask my daughter to spare
my eyes as usual； without telling her of your inquiries； and
putting a young lady's diffidence to the blush。 So I send her in
effigy （without her knowledge） to answer for herself。 It is a
good likeness of a good girl。 If she likes your sonand if I
like him； which I am sure I shallwe may yet live； my good
friend； to see our children what we might once have been
ourselvesman and wife。' My mother gave me the miniature with
the letter。 The portrait at once struck meI can't say why； I
can't say howas nothing of the kind had ever struck me before。
〃Harder intellects than mine might have attributed the
extraordinary impression produced on me to the disordered
condition of my mind at that time； to the weariness of my own
base pleasures which had been gaining on me for months past； to
the undefined longing which that weariness implied for newer
interests and fresher hopes than any that had possessed me yet。 I
attempted no such sober self…examination as this： I believed in
destiny then； I believe in destiny now。 It was enough for me to
knowas I did knowthat the first sense I had ever felt of
something better in my nature than my animal sel