“Let us hope that they are indeed innocent,” said Mr. Hatfield solemnly. “And now I will explain to you the manner in which I propose to deal with this Perdita.”
The interest and attention of Charles redoubled, if possible, as his father uttered these words.
“Thank heaven,” continued Mr. Hatfield, “I possess wealth; and by means of gold, every thing can be accomplished with such mercenary adventuresses as these. Perdita shall receive a handsome sum of ready money, and a suitable income allowed her so long as she shall consent to dwell upon the continent, take any other name than that which you have unfortunately given her, and never more molest you.”
But scarcely had Mr. Hatfield uttered these words,—and before his son had time to offer a single comment upon the proposed plan to be adopted,—the door opened, and Perdita entered the room.
CHAPTER CLII.
THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE SON’S WIFE.
The magnificent creature whom Mr. Hatfield now beheld for the first time, had perhaps never shone to greater advantage than on the present occasion.
She was absolutely dazzling—radiant—supernally grand, in all the glory of her queen-like beauty.
A French cambric wrapper, worked, and trimmed with costly lace, enveloped her form—fitting loosely, yet defining all the rich contours of her voluptuous shape;—and, though—having risen hurriedly almost immediately after awakening—she had no stays on, the natural firmness of her bust maintained its rounded proportions without any artificial support.
We have before said that her early initiation in a career of wantonness and the licentious course which she had pursued in Australia, had marred nothing of the first freshness of youth in respect to her;—and thus, though her wrapper was so far open at the bosom as to show that the glowing orbs of snowy whiteness were unsustained by the usual article of apparel, their contours were of virgin roundness.
Her dark brown hair had been hastily gathered up in two massive bands, silken and glossy, and serving as a frame to set off the height and width of the fine forehead, which rose above brows arching majestically, and almost meeting between the temples.