whomCERTAINpersonsthoughttobedead，wasnotso，butliving，andinfullpossessionofhismemory，andmoreoverreadyandabletomakeGREATdelinquentstremble。’Itthenwentontodescribethemurder，without，however，mentioningnames；andindoingso，itenteredintominuteandcircumstantialparticularsofwhichnonebutanEYE-WITNESScouldhavebeenpossessed，andbyimplicationsalmosttoounequivocaltoberegardedinthelightofinsinuation，toinvolvethe’TITLED
GAMBLER’intheguiltofthetransaction。
MyfatheratonceurgedSirArthurtoproceedagainstthepaperinanactionoflibel；buthewouldnothearofit，norconsenttomyfather’stakinganylegalstepswhateverinthematter。Myfather，however，wroteinathreateningtonetoFaulkner，demandingasurrenderoftheauthoroftheobnoxiousarticle。Theanswertothisapplicationisstillinmypossession，andispennedinanapologetictone：itstatesthatthemanuscripthadbeenhandedin，paidfor，andinsertedasanadvertisement，withoutsufficientinquiry，oranyknowledgeastowhomitreferred。
Nostep，however，wastakentoclearmyuncle’scharacterinthejudgmentofthepublic；andasheimmediatelysoldasmallproperty，theapplicationoftheproceedsofwhichwasknowntonone，hewassaidtohavedisposedofittoenablehimselftobuyoffthethreatenedinformation。
Howeverthetruthmighthavebeen，itiscertainthatnochargesrespectingthemysteriousmurderwereafterwardspubliclymadeagainstmyuncle，and，asfarasexternaldisturbanceswereconcerned，heenjoyedhenceforwardperfectsecurityandquiet。
Adeepandlastingimpression，however，hadbeenmadeuponthepublicmind，andSirArthurT——nwasnolongervisitedornoticedbythegentryandaristocracyofthecounty，whoseattentionandcourtesieshehadhithertoreceived。Heaccordinglyaffectedtodespisetheseenjoymentswhichhecouldnotprocure，andshunnedeventhatsocietywhichhemighthavecommanded。
ThisisallthatIneedrecapitulateofmyuncle’shistory，andInowrecurtomyown。
Althoughmyfatherhadnever，withinmyrecollection，visited，orbeenvisitedby，myuncle，eachbeingofsedentary，procrastinating，andsecludedhabits，andtheirrespectiveresidencesbeingveryfarapart——
theonelyinginthecountyofGalway，theotherinthatofCork——hewasstronglyattachedtohisbrother，andevincedhisaffectionbyanactivecorrespondence，andbydeeplyandproudlyresentingthatneglectwhichhadmarkedSirArthurasunfittomixinsociety。
WhenIwasabouteighteenyearsofage，myfather，whosehealthhadbeengraduallydeclining，died，leavingmeinheartwretchedanddesolate，and，owingtohispreviousseclusion，withfewacquaintances，andalmostnofriends。
Theprovisionsofhiswillwerecurious，andwhenIhadsufficientlycometomyselftolistentoorcomprehendthem，surprisedmenotalittle：allhisvastpropertywaslefttome，andtotheheirsofmybody，forever；and，indefaultofsuchheirs，itwastogoaftermydeathtomyuncle，SirArthur，withoutanyentail。
Atthesametime，thewillappointedhimmyguardian，desiringthatImightbereceivedwithinhishouse，andresidewithhisfamily，andunderhiscare，duringthetermofmyminority；andinconsiderationoftheincreasedexpenseconsequentuponsuchanarrangement，ahandsomeannuitywasallottedtohimduringthetermofmyproposedresidence。
TheobjectofthislastprovisionIatonceunderstood：myfatherdesired，bymakingitthedirect，apparentinterestofSirArthurthatIshoulddiewithoutissue，whileatthesametimeheplacedmewhollyinhispower，toprovetotheworldhowgreatandunshakenwashisconfidenceinhisbrother’sinnocenceandhonour，andalsotoaffordhimanopportunityofshowingthatthismarkofconfidencewasnotunworthilybestowed。
Itwasastrange，perhapsanidlescheme；butasIhadbeenalwaysbroughtupinthehabitofconsideringmyuncleasadeeply-injuredman，andhadbeentaught，almostasapartofmyreligion，toregardhimastheverysoulofhonour，Ifeltnofurtheruneasinessrespectingthearrangementthanthatlikelytoresulttoatimidgirl，ofsecludedhabits，fromtheimmediateprospectoftakingupherabodeforthefirsttimeinherlifeamongtotalstrangers。
Previoustoleavingmyhome，whichIfeltIshoulddowithaheavyheart，Ire-
ceivedamosttenderandaffectionateletterfrommyuncle，calculated，ifanythingcoulddoso，toremovethebitternessofpartingfromscenesfamiliaranddearfrommyearliestchildhood，andinsomedegreetoreconcilemetothemeasure。
ItwasduringafineautumnthatI
approachedtheolddomainofCarrickleigh。
IshallnotsoonforgettheimpressionofsadnessandofgloomwhichallthatIsawproduceduponmymind；thesunbeamswerefallingwitharichandmelancholytintuponthefineoldtrees，whichstoodinlordlygroups，castingtheirlong，sweepingshadowsoverrockandsward。Therewasanairofneglectanddecayaboutthespot，whichamountedalmosttodesolation；thesymptomsofthisincreasedinnumberasweapproachedthebuildingitself，nearwhichthegroundhadbeenoriginallymoreartificiallyandcarefullycultivatedthanelsewhere，andwhoseneglectconsequentlymoreimmediatelyandstrikinglybetrayeditself。
Asweproceeded，theroadwoundnearthebedsofwhathadbeenformallytwofish-ponds，whichwerenownothingmorethanstagnantswamps，overgrownwithrankweeds，andhereandthereencroacheduponbythestragglingunderwood；theavenueitselfwasmuchbroken，andinmanyplacesthestoneswerealmostconcealedbygrassandnettles；theloosestonewallswhichhadhereandthereintersectedthebroadparkwere，inmanyplaces，brokendown，soasnolongertoanswertheiroriginalpurposeasfences；
pierswerenowandthentobeseen，butthegatesweregone；and，toaddtothegeneralairofdilapidation，somehugetrunkswerelyingscatteredthroughthevenerableoldtrees，eithertheworkofthewinterstorms，orperhapsthevictimsofsomeextensivebutdesultoryschemeofdenudation，whichtheprojectorhadnotcapitalorperseverancetocarryintofulleffect。
Afterthecarriagehadtravelledamileofthisavenue，wereachedthesummitofratheranabrupteminence，oneofthemanywhichaddedtothepicturesqueness，ifnottotheconvenienceofthisrudepassage。FromthetopofthisridgethegreywallsofCarrickleighwerevisible，risingatasmalldistanceinfront，anddarkenedbythehoarywoodwhichcrowdedaroundthem。Itwasaquadrangularbuildingofconsiderableextent，andthefrontwhichlaytowardsus，andinwhichthegreatentrancewasplaced，boreunequivocalmarksofantiquity；thetime-worn，solemnaspectoftheoldbuilding，theruinousanddesertedappearanceofthewholeplace，andtheassociationswhichconnecteditwithadarkpageinthehistoryofmyfamily，combinedtodepressspiritsalreadypredisposedforthereceptionofsombreanddejectingimpressions。
Whenthecarriagedrewupinthegrass-
growncourtyardbeforethehall-door，twolazy-lookingmen，whoseappearancewellaccordedwiththatoftheplacewhichtheytenanted，alarmedbytheobstreperousbarkingofagreatchaineddog，ranoutfromsomehalf-ruinousout-houses，andtookchargeofthehorses；thehall-doorstoodopen，andIenteredagloomyandimperfectlylightedapartment，andfoundnoonewithin。However，Ihadnotlongtowaitinthisawkwardpredicament，forbeforemyluggagehadbeendepositedinthehouse，indeed，beforeIhadwellremovedmycloakandotherwraps，soastoenablemetolookaround，ayounggirlranlightlyintothehall，andkissingmeheartily，andsomewhatboisterously，exclaimed：
’Mydearcousin，mydearMargaret——
Iamsodelighted——sooutofbreath。Wedidnotexpectyoutillteno’clock；myfatherissomewhereabouttheplace，hemustbecloseathand。James——Corney——runoutandtellyourmaster——mybrotherisseldomathome，atleastatanyreasonablehour——youmustbesotired——sofatigued——letmeshowyoutoyourroom——
seethatLadyMargaret’sluggageisallbroughtup——youmustliedownandrestyourself——Deborah，bringsomecoffee——upthesestairs；wearesodelightedtoseeyou——youcannotthinkhowlonelyIhavebeen——howsteepthesestairsare，arenotthey？Iamsogladyouarecome——I
couldhardlybringmyselftobelievethatyouwerereallycoming——howgoodofyou，dearLadyMargaret。’
Therewasrealgood-natureanddelightinmycousin’sgreeting，andakindofconstitutionalconfidenceofmannerwhichplacedmeatonceatease，andmademefeelimmediatelyupontermsofintimacywithher。Theroomintowhichsheusheredme，althoughpartakinginthegeneralairofdecaywhichpervadedthemansionandallaboutit，hadneverthelessbeenfittedupwithevidentattentiontocomfort，andevenwithsomedingyattemptatluxury；butwhatpleasedmemostwasthatitopened，byaseconddoor，uponalobbywhichcommunicatedwithmyfaircousin’sapartment；acircumstancewhichdivestedtheroom，inmyeyes，oftheairofsolitudeandsadnesswhichwouldotherwisehavecharacterisedit，toadegreealmostpainfultoonesodejectedinspiritsasIwas。
AftersucharrangementsasIfoundnecessarywerecompleted，webothwentdowntotheparlour，alargewainscotedroom，hungroundwithgrimoldportraits，and，asIwasnotsorrytosee，containinginitsamplegratealargeandcheerfulfire。Heremycousinhadleisuretotalkmoreatherease；andfromherIlearnedsomethingofthemannersandthehabitsofthetworemainingmembersofherfamily，whomIhadnotyetseen。
OnmyarrivalIhadknownnothingofthefamilyamongwhomIwascometoreside，exceptthatitconsistedofthreeindividuals，myuncle，andhissonanddaughter，LadyT——nhavingbeenlongdead。Inadditiontothisveryscantystockofinformation，Ishortlylearnedfrommycommunicativecompanionthatmyunclewas，asIhadsuspected，completelyretiredinhishabits，andbesidesthat，havingbeensofarbackasshecouldwellrecollect，alwaysratherstrict，asreformedrakesfrequentlybecome，hehadlatterlybeengrowingmoregloomilyandsternlyreligiousthanheretofore。
Heraccountofherbrotherwasfarlessfavourable，thoughshedidnotsayanythingdirectlytohisdisadvantage。FromallthatIcouldgatherfromher，Iwasledtosupposethathewasaspecimenoftheidle，coarse-mannered，profligate，low-minded’squirearchy’——aresultwhichmightnaturallyhaveflowedfromthecircum-
stanceofhisbeing，asitwere，outlawedfromsociety，anddrivenforcompanionshiptogradesbelowhisown——enjoying，too，thedangerousprerogativeofspendingmuchmoney。
However，youmayeasilysupposethatIfoundnothinginmycousin’scommunicationfullytobearmeoutinsoverydecidedaconclusion。
Iawaitedthearrivalofmyuncle，whichwaseverymomenttobeexpected，withfeelingshalfofalarm，halfofcuriosity——asensationwhichIhaveoftensinceexperienced，thoughtoalessdegree，whenuponthepointofstandingforthefirsttimeinthepresenceofoneofwhomIhavelongbeeninthehabitofhearingorthinkingwithinterest。
Itwas，therefore，withsomelittleperturbationthatIheard，firstaslightbustleattheouterdoor，thenaslowsteptraversethehall，andfinallywitnessedthedooropen，andmyuncleentertheroom。
Hewasastriking-lookingman；frompeculiaritiesbothofpersonandofgarb，thewholeeffectofhisappearanceamountedtoextremesingularity。Hewastall，andwhenyounghisfiguremusthavebeenstrikinglyelegant；asitwas，however，itseffectwasmarredbyaverydecidedstoop。
Hisdresswasofasobercolour，andinfashionanteriortoanythingwhichIcouldremember。Itwas，however，handsome，andbynomeanscarelesslyputon；butwhatcompletedthesingularityofhisappearancewashisuncut，whitehair，whichhunginlong，butnotatallneglectedcurls，evensofarashisshoulders，andwhichcombinedwithhisregularlyclassicfeatures，andfinedarkeyes，tobestowuponhimanairofvenerabledignityandpride，whichIhaveneverseenequalledelsewhere。Iroseasheentered，andmethimaboutthemiddleoftheroom；hekissedmycheekandbothmyhands，saying：
’Youaremostwelcome，dearchild，aswelcomeasthecommandofthispoorplaceandallthatitcontainscanmakeyou。Iammostrejoicedtoseeyou——
trulyrejoiced。Itrustthatyouarenotmuchfatigued——praybeseatedagain。’
Heledmetomychair，andcontinued：’I
amgladtoperceiveyouhavemadeacquaintancewithEmilyalready；Isee，inyourbeingthusbroughttogether，thefoundationofalastingfriendship。Youarebothinnocent，andbothyoung。Godblessyou——Godblessyou，andmakeyouallthatIcouldwish。’
Heraisedhiseyes，andremainedforafewmomentssilent，asifinsecretprayer。
Ifeltthatitwasimpossiblethatthisman，withfeelingssoquick，sowarm，sotender，couldbethewretchthatpublicopinionhadrepresentedhimtobe。Iwasmorethaneverconvincedofhisinnocence。
Hismannerwas，orappearedtome，mostfascinating；therewasamingledkindnessandcourtesyinitwhichseemedtospeakbenevolenceitself。ItwasamannerwhichIfeltcoldartcouldneverhavetaught；itowedmostofitscharmtoitsappearingtoemanatedirectlyfromtheheart；itmustbeagenuineindexoftheowner’smind。SoIthought。
MyunclehavinggivenmefullytounderstandthatIwasmostwelcome，andmightcommandwhateverwashisown，pressedmetotakesomerefreshment；andonmyrefusing，heobservedthatpreviouslytobiddingmegood-night，hehadonedutyfurthertoperform，oneinwhoseobservancehewasconvincedIwouldcheerfullyacquiesce。