Hence from my sight, and my curse
go with thee!"
His eyes fixed on the ground, his arms folded on his breast, the haughty
and dogged spirit of Middlemas yet seemed to meditate reply. But
Hartley, Winter, and other bystanders interfered, and forced him from
the apartment. As they endeavoured to remonstrate with him, he twisted
himself out of their grasp, ran to the stables, and seizing the first
saddled horse that he found, out of many that had been in haste got
ready to seek for assistance, he threw himself on its back, and rode
furiously off. Hartley was about to mount and follow him; but Winter and
the other domestics threw themselves around him, and implored him not to
desert their unfortunate master, at a time when the influence which he
had acquired over him might be the only restraint on the violence of his
passions.
"He had a _coup de soleil_ in India," whispered Winter, "and is capable
of any thing in his fits. These cowards cannot control him, and I am old
and feeble."
Satisfied that General Witherington was a greater object of compassion
than Middlemas, whom besides he had no hope of overtaking, and who he
believed was safe in his own keeping, however violent might be his
present emotions, Hartley returned where the greater emergency demanded
his immediate care.
He found the unfortunate General contending with the domestics, who
endeavoured to prevent his making his way to the apartment where his
children slept, and exclaiming furiously--"Rejoice, my
treasures--rejoice!--He has fled, who would proclaim your father's
crime, and your mother's dishonour!--He has fled, never to return, whose
life has been the death of one parent, and the ruin of another!--Courage,
my children, your father is with you--he will make his way to you through
a hundred obstacles!"
The domestics, intimidated and undecided, were giving way to him, when
Adam Hartley approached, and placing himself before the unhappy man,
fixed his eye firmly on the General's, while he said in a low but stern
voice--"Madman, would you kill your children?"
The General seemed staggered in his resolution, but still attempted to
rush past him.
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