Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-06-09

y y
gratefully. 1t was told me by the Bank that
the gentleman would explain to me the details
of the business, and that must prepare myself
to find them of q surprising nature. have
done my best to prepare myself, and naturally
have a strong and eager interest to know what
they are
Naturally" said Mr.. Lorry. " Yes--I--",
After pause he added, again settling the
crisp Aaxen wig at the ears
" 1t is very difficult to begin"
He did not begin, but, in his indecision, met
her glance. The young forehead lifted itself
into that singular expression-but it was pretty.
and characteristics. besides being snrgaiar--illld
she raised Der hand, as if with an involuntary
action she caught or stayed some passing
shadow.
Arc you quito stranger to me, Sir
Am not ?" Mr.. Lorry opened his hands,
and extended them outward with an argument
ative smile.
Between the eyebrows and just over the little
feminine nose, the line of which was as delicate
and fine as it was possible to be, the expression
deepencd itself as she took her seat thoughtfully
In the chair by which she had hitherto remained
standing. He watched her as she unused, and j.,
the moment she raised her eyes again, went on:
I" In your adopted country, l presume, can
not'lo better than address you as young En-
plish lodv Miss Nanette Yn
"lf you please, SIR
Miss Menette, am man of business.
have II business charge to acquit myself Of. In
your reception OF it don't heed me any more
than if I was a speaking machine-truly ! am
not much else. will, with your leave, relate
to you, miss, the story Of one of our custom
ers.'
''Story 3"
lie seemed wilfuly to mistake the word she
had repeated, when he added, in a hurry, " Yes,
customers in the banking business we usually
call our connection our customers. He was a
French gentleman; q scientific gentleman a
man Of great acquircments-a Doctor
b" Not Of Beauvas?'
" Why, yes, Of Boauvais. Like Monsieur
Manette. your father, the gentleman was OF
Bcauvais. Like Monsiaur Manette, your father
the gentleman was of repute in Paris hat
the honor of knowing him there. Our rcla,
tions were business relations, but confidential
I was at time in our French House, and had
been-oh! twenty years"
"At that time-I may ask at what time
Sir
speak, miss, of twenty years ago. Hc
married--an English lady--and was one Of
the trustees Ffis affiirsS like the affairs oI
many other French gentlemen and French fam
lilies, were entirely in Tellson's hands. In y
similar way ain, or have been, trustee ol
one kind or other for scores If our customers
These are more business relations. miss there
is no friendship in them, no particular interest
nothing like sentiment have passed from one
to another, in the course of my business life
Just as pass from one of our customers to an
other in the course Of our business day ; il
short, have no feelings; am mere machine
To go on"
" But this is my fathers story, Sir; and
begin to think the curiously roughcned fore
head waS very intent upon him" that when
was left an orphan, through my mothers sur
viving my father only two years. 1t was yor
who brought me to England. | am almost SURF
it was you.
Mr.. Lorry took the hcsltating little hand tina
confdingly advanced to take his, and no put
with some ceremony to his lips. lie then con
Quoted the young lady straightway to her chai
again, and, holding the chair-back with his lei
hand and using his right by turns to rub hi
chin, pull his wig at the ears, or point what h
said, stood looking down into her face, Will
she sat looking up into his.
/" Miss Manette, 1T ,oas |. And you will se
how truly spoke of myself just now, in say
ing that had no feelings, and that all the re
lations hold with my fellow creatures are mer
business relations, when you reflect that hav
never seen you since. No; you have been tn
ward of Tellson's House since, and | have bee
busy with the other business of Tellson's lIous
since Feelings have no time for them, n
charce of them. pass my whole life, mis-
in turning an immense pecuniary Mangle.'
After this odd description of his daily routin
of employment Mr.. Lorry hattened his ilaxe
wig upon his head with both hands (Which wa
most unnecessary, for nothing could be Aatt,
than its shining surface was before) and resum
cd his former attitude.
$50 fal, miss (as you have remarked,) tn
is the story of your regretted father No
comes the difference If your father had nj
died when he did Don't DO frightened Ho
you start -
She did indeed start. And she caught h
wrist with both her hands.
Pray" said Nir. Lorry, in soothing tom
bringing his left hand from the back of IL
chair to lay it on the supplicatory fingers tn,
clasped him IN 80 violent u trenble "pra
control your agtatlon-a matter of business
AS was saying
, Her look 50 discomposcd him that he stoppe
r wandered, and began anew
: "As was saying: il Monsieur Menette h;
not died if he had suddenly and silently d
5 appeared if he had boon spirited away if
! had not been difficult to guess to what dreadf
l place, though no art could trace him if
had an enemy in some compatriot who cou
4 exercise privilege that in my own time ha
Q known the boldest people afraid to speak of
y a whisper, across the water, there for instan
4 the privilege of filling up blank forms for t
t consignment Of any one to the oblivion of
0 prison for any length of time; if his wife HI
implored the king, the queen, the court, t