I am well aware how
preposterous and even shocking they may well appear to you; yet, let
me assure you, on the Faith of a Man of Honour that if you will entrust
her to me, wretched Recluse though I be, and will permit her to bear my
Name, I will answer for her Happiness and Welfare. Situated as I am,
I cannot enter into further explanations; but we are old Acquaintance,
though we have not met for many Years, and therefore I venture to beg
of you to believe me when I say that if you will repose Confidence in
me, and exercise Patience, I can promise your admirable Daughter such
Preferment as she is far from expecting. She has been the Blessing of
my darkened Life, but I would never have presumed to ask further were
it not that I have no other Means of protecting her, nor of shielding
her from Evils that may threaten her, and that might prove far worse
than bearing the Name of
"Your obedient Servant to command,
"AMYAS BELAMOUR.
"Bowstead Park, Dec. 3rd, 1737."
"Enigmatical!" said Betty.
"It could hardly be otherwise if he had to employ a secretary" said
her father. "Who can have written for him?"
"His friend, Dr. Godfrey, most probably," said Betty. "It is well
spelt as well as indited, and has not the air of being drawn up by
a lawyer.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208