The Admiral's Daughter Read Online Free PDF

preparation for the journey, for Maggie had the whole house to see to, and the servants must be given instructions for the period of her absence. Nearly a fortnight was required for this, and one day—nearly the last one before she was to quit Sussex—a servant came to her as she was in the storeroom with the housekeeper.
    â€œMr. Wayland is here from the village to see you, miss,” said the maid. Startled, Maggie demanded if this was really the case. She could not conceive of his pride allowing him to visit her so soon after he had been rejected. Only the most urgent business could have brought him, she was sure. Thinking there must have been some death, or that an illness had broken out among the local residents, she went upstairs without pausing to tidy her hair or change her frock.
    Mr. Wayland was waiting in the morning room. His manner, as he bowed, was stiff and formal, and the elaborations of his greeting so pointed that they seemed to be meant as a punishment. Hemming and hawing for a shorter time than usual, however, the Vicar commenced:
    â€œI should not have intruded upon you, Miss Trevor,” said he, in the self-important tone which was his wont, “if I had not had a great piece of news to impart. I would not for all the world have disturbed you in any other case.”
    Maggie murmured that she would never consider the Vicar an intruder.
    â€œHow kind you are!” declared the clergyman, but with a look that contradicted his utterance. “You were not once so kind,” his eyes seemed to say, but, much to Maggie’s relief, his lips were soon occupied in saying something else.
    â€œI came, in short, merely to tell you, for I thought you might still have some interest in the case, that I have received the living I mentioned to you.”
    â€œHow very fortunate for you!” cried Maggie. “But I do not recall any such living. Perhaps you did not mention it to me?”
    Mr. Wayland was very sure he had mentioned it, mentioned it, in fact, at some length and in detail. But he only smiled icily, and said, “Oh! I thought you knew all about it. It is the very living I had hoped for, and now, through a lucky stroke, I have got it just at the time I wished most to be removed from the neighborhood.”
    This last was muttered with an accusing look, and Maggie saw at once that the chief purpose of the interview was intended to be a punishment of herself.
    â€œHow delightful! I hope it is a good situation?”
    â€œAs excellent a one as I could wish,” pronounced the Vicar primly. “Indeed, even had I not the desire to live elsewhere, I should have been happy to take it, for the post itself is among the most important in the vicinity of London, and the family one of the finest in the whole kingdom. The park and grounds are, as I believe I mentioned, most beautiful. The castle is ancient, but has many modern conveniences, and the whole situation is so advantageous for a man of my tastes that I am quite overjoyed. The lady of the family is, besides, so exceedingly condescending, such an elegant personage in every wise, that she has offered me the use of the park at any time, and hinted that I shall be almost a member of the family.”
    â€œHow very fortunate for you!” cried Maggie, as warmly as she could. “It will be a great thing to have such friends in a new home. And where is the living to be held?”
    â€œIn the county of Essex!”
    â€œIn Essex!” Maggie had just been considering the irony of fate, which was to remove Mr. Wayland from the vicinity just when she had no need of his removal. “What a coincidence, for I go to Essex myself the day after tomorrow, on a visit to my cousins.”
    The coincidence struck Mr. Wayland as ironic, too. However, since he was now in a position to patronize his old inamorata, he determined to be generous.
    â€œHow astonishing! It is likely your cousins will not be within easy reach of