Fleetwood; Or, the New Man of Feeling (Paperback)

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. 1832 edition. Excerpt: ... All these views of the subject passed through my mind with the utmost perturbation, and I snatched up the letter, resolved not to defer a moment longer the satisfaction of my doubts. I tore it open. I glanced my eyes over the contents. The first words that presented themselves were those of love, " impatience of absence," and amorous complaints that the writer's "ardour had not obtained a like return." The paper dropped from my hand. "It is all over," I said; "and I am a wretch for ever " This was indeed a thunderstroke to me. The reports of what passed at the rooms at Bath depended for their meaning upon the fidelity of the reporter, and at worst were ambiguous, admitting of a variety of interpretations. Here was the hand-writing of one of the parties, witnessing to the offences of both. Was it the hand-writing of Kenrick? It would be idiotism to doubt it The conviction that it was, did not rest upon my infirmity of temper. I had perceived it at once, when I was far from being aware of the guilty contents of the writing within. "No, no; never again will I confide in the integrity of a human creature Kenrick, did your countenance and tones cure me of all my doubts? That countenance was the steadiness of a villain; those tones were the glossiness of a hypocrite. How unheard-of a wretch I threw myself into his arms; that did not move him. I wrote him a letter burning with words of affection; I told him I would trust my life in his hands. He returned me an answer, echoing and mimicking back to me the emotions of my heart. That did not disturb him; he did not suspend for a moment his traitor machinations. He put the certificate containing my liberal benefactions into his writing box; he took out at the same instant the sheet of paper...