us that some hazards
attended it. I was afraid of calumny, which might trouble the peace or
destroy the reputation of my friend. I was afraid of my own weakness,
which might be seduced into an indiscreet marriage by the charms or
sufferings of this bewitching creature. I felt that there was no price
too dear to save her from slander. A fair fame is of the highest
importance to a young female, and the loss of it but poorly supplied by
the testimony of her own conscience. I had reason for tenfold solicitude
on this account, since I was her only protector and friend. Hence, I
cherished some hopes that time might change her views, and suggest less
dangerous schemes. Meanwhile, I was to lose no time in visiting
Malverton and Philip Hadwin.

About ten days had elapsed since we had deserted Malverton. These were
days of successive storms, and travelling had been rendered
inconvenient. The weather was now calm and clear, and, early in the
morning that ensued the dialogue which I have just related, I set out on
horseback.

Honest Caleb was found eating his breakfast nearly in the spot where he
had been first discovered. He answered my inquiries by saying, that, two
days after our departure, several men had come to the house, one of whom
was Philip Hadwin. They had interrogated him as to the condition of the
farm, and the purpose of his remaining on it. William Hadwin they knew
to have been some time dead; but where were the girls, his daughters?

Caleb answered that Susy, the eldest, was likewise dead.

These tidings excited astonishment. When died she, and how, and where
was she buried?

It happened two days before, and she was buried, he believed, but could
not tell where.

Not tell where? By whom, then, was she buried?

Really, he could not tell. Some strange man came there just as she was
dying. He went to the room, and, when she was dead, took her away, but
what he did with the body was more than he could say, but he had a
notion that he buried it. The man stayed till the morning, and then went
off with Lizzy, leaving him to keep house by himself. He had not seen
either of them, nor, indeed, a single soul since.

This was all the information that Caleb could afford the visitants. It
was so lame and incredible that they began to charge the man with
falsehood, and to threaten him with legal animadversion. Just then Mr.
Ellis entered the house, and, being made acquainted with the subject of
discourse, told all that h