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Yet in the rapture of conjugal bliss； she did not forget duty and filial affection。 She wrote a long and tender letter to her father； telling him how it all happened； and hoping that she should soon be settled； and then he would come and live with her and her adored husband。
Mr。 Carden was delighted with this letter； which； indeed； was one gush of love and happiness。 He told Coventry what had taken place； and counseled patience。
Coventry broke out into curses。 He made wonderful efforts for a man in his condition； he got lawyers to prepare a petition to Parliament； he had the register inspected； and found that the Shifty had married two poor couples； he bribed them to join in his petition； and inserted in it that； in consideration of this marriage； he had settled a certain farm and buildings on his wife for her separate use； and on her heirs forever。
The petition was read in Parliament； and no objection taken。 It was considered a matter of course。
But； a few days afterward； one of the lawyers in the House； primed by a person whose name I am not free to mention； recurred to the subject； and said that； as regarded one of these couples； too partial a statement had been laid before the House； he was credibly informed that the parties had separated immediately after the ceremony； and that the bride had since been married； according to law； to a gentleman who possessed her affections； and had lived with him ever since the said marriage。
On this another lawyer got up； and said that 〃if that was so； the petition must be abandoned。 Parliament was humane； and would protect an illegal marriage per se； but not an illegal marriage competing with a legal one； that would be to tamper with the law of England； and； indeed； with morality； would compel a woman to adultery in her own despite。〃
This proved a knock…down blow； and the petition was dropped； as respected Frederick Coventry and Grace Little。
Coventry's farm was returned to him； and the settlement canceled。
Little sent Ransome to him with certain memoranda； and warned him to keep quiet； or he would be indicted for felony。
He groaned and submitted。
He lives still to expiate his crimes。
While I write these lines； there still stands at Poma Bridge one disemboweled house； to mark that terrible flood： and even so； this human survivor lives a wreck。 〃Below the waist an inert mass； above it； a raging； impotent； despairing criminal。〃 He often prays for death。 Since he can pray for any thing let us hope he will one day pray for penitence and life everlasting。
Little built a house in the suburbs leading to Raby Hall。 There is a forge in the yard； in which the inventor perfects his inventions with his own hand。 He is a wealthy man； and will be wealthier for he lives prudently and is never idle。
Mr。 Carden lives with him。 Little is too happy with Grace to bear malice against her father。
Grace is lovelier than ever； and blissfully happy in the husband she adores； and two lovely children。
Guy Raby no longer calls life one disappointment： he has a loving and prudent wife； and loves her as she deserves； his olive branches are rising fast around him； and as sometimes happens to a benedict of his age； who has lived soberly； he looks younger； feels younger； talks younger； behaves younger than he did ten years before he married。 He is quite unconscious that he has departed from his favorite theories； in wedding a yeoman's daughter。 On the contrary； he believes he has acted on a system； and crossed the breed so judiciously as to attain greater physical perfection by means of a herculean dam； yet retain that avitam fidem； or traditional loyalty； which （to use his own words） 〃is born both in Rabys and Dences； as surely as a high…bred setter comes into the world with a nose for game。〃
Mrs。 Little has rewarded Dr。 Amboyne's patience and constancy。 They have no children of their own； so they claim all the young Littles and Rabys； present and to come； and the doctor has bound both the young women by a solemn vow to teach them； at an early age； the art of putting themselves into his place； her place； their place。 He has convinced these young mothers that the 〃great transmigratory art；〃 although it comes of itself only to a few superior minds； can be taught to vast numbers； and he declares that； were it to be taught as generally as reading and writing； that teaching alone would quadruple the intelligence of mankind； and go far to double its virtue。
But time flies； and space contracts： the words and the deeds of Amboyne； are they not written in the Amboyniana？
One foggy night； the house of a non…Union fender…grinder was blown up with gunpowder； and not the workman onlythe mildest and most inoffensive man I ever talked withbut certain harmless women and innocent children； who had done nothing to offend the Union； were all but destroyed。 The same barbarous act had been committed more than once before； and with more bloody results； but had led to no large consequencescarebat quai vate sacro； but this time there happened to be a vates in the place； to wit； an honest； intrepid journalist； with a mind in advance of his age。 He came； he looked； he spoke to the poor shaken creaturesone of them shaken for life； and doomed now to start from sleep at every little sound till she sleeps foreverand the blood in his heart boiled。 The felony was publicly reprobated； and with horror； by the Union； which had； nevertheless； hired the assassins； but this well…worn lie did not impose on the vates； or chronicler ahead of his time。 He went round to all the manufacturers； and asked them to speak out。 They durst not； for their lives； but closed all doors； and then； with bated breath； and all the mien of slaves well trodden down； hinted where information might be had。 Thereupon the vates aforesaidHoldfast ycleptwent from scent to scent； till he dropped on a discontented grinder； with fish…like eyes； who had been in 〃many a night job。〃 This man agreed to split； on two conditions； he was to receive a sum of money； and to be sent into another hemisphere； since his life would not be worth a straw； if he told the truth about the Trades in this one。 His terms were accepted； and then he made some tremendous revelations and； with these in his possession； Holdfast wrote leader upon leader； to prove that the Unions must have been guilty of every Trade outrage that had taken place for years in the district； but adroitly concealing that he had positive information。
Grotait replied incautiously； and got worsted before the public。 The ablest men； if not writers； are unwise to fence writers。
Holdfast received phonetic letters threatening his life： he acknowledged them in his journal and invited the writers to call。
He loaded a revolver and went on writing the leaders with a finger on the trigger。 CALIFORNIA！ Oh； dear； no： the very center of England。
Ransome co…operated with him and collected further evidence； and then Holdfast communicated privately with a portion of the London press； and begged them to assist him to obtain a Royal commission of inquiry； in which case he pledged himself to prove that a whole string of murders and outrages had been ordered and paid fo