This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822 edition. Excerpt: ... that seemed calculated to fill his heart with joy, a strange presentiment of evil intruded itself upon his mind. This newlyadopted scheme of his uncle's was so sudden, that he could not help fearing some deep design was concealed beneath the specious covering of pretended indulgence. Full well did he know, that a wish to give pleasure had never yet pervaded his uncle's heart. He was sure, therefore, that he must have some malicious end in view, in consenting to his addressing Fanny; and he feared, that of mortifying Amelia was not a motive sufficiently strong to indue him to take the step he had done. But although the duke's mind; was thus harassed by conjectures the most painful, he was obliged to act as if satisfied that Lord Somertowu's intentions towards him were actuated by the purest benevolence. To these conjectures we will now leave him, and; return to Pemberton Abbey, where we left poor Fanny apostrophising the senseless shades of her distant friends, and vainly calling upon them for that assistance she wanted. CHAPTER XXVI. A Father. One night, when Fanny was retiring to rest, she found a sealed note upon her toilet, superscribed to herself. Surprise, and something like fear, seized her mind as with trembling hand she broke the seal of this mysterious address; for mysterious it must appear, that a note should be left upon her dressing-table, in a place where she knew nobody beyond the walls of the hou'e she inhahited. On opening the paper she found it was from Mr. Hamilton. It contained the following words: I have kept my word, and am now an inhahitant of the house that contains you. This assertion startles you, no doubt; but when we meet I will explain the mystery to your satisfaction. I have now no doubts remaining...