THE HAMPSTEAD MYSTERY.
A Novel.
BY
FLORENCE MARRYAT,
AUTHOR OF ‘LOVE’S CONFLICT,’ ‘VÉRONIQUE,’ ‘MY OWNCHILD,’ ‘MY SISTER THE ACTRESS,’ ‘HOW LIKEA WOMAN,’ ‘PARSON JONES,’ ETC., ETC.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
F. V. WHITE & CO.,
14 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND, W.C.
1894.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE | |
| CHAPTER I., | 1 |
| CHAPTER II., | 25 |
| CHAPTER III., | 46 |
| CHAPTER IV., | 75 |
| CHAPTER V., | 97 |
| CHAPTER VI., | 123 |
| CHAPTER VII., | 145 |
| CHAPTER VIII., | 171 |
| CHAPTER IX., | 198 |
| CHAPTER X., | 218 |
THE HAMPSTEAD MYSTERY.
The Hampstead Mystery.
CHAPTER I.
‘Once for all,’ exclaimed Mr Crampton,bringing down his broad fist heavily uponthe table, ‘once for all, I tell you, I willnot have it.’
At this terrible assertion, Mrs Cramptonshivered as if she had been struck, andAunt Clem silently dissolved into tears.Henry Hindes, of all the party, alonepreserved his composure. He leaned backin his chair, carefully trimming his filbertnails with a penknife, as if the affair underdiscussion were not of the slightestmoment.[Pg 2]
‘Of course you will not have it,’ he saidafter a pause to Mr Crampton, ‘no manin his senses would. Mr Frederick Walcherenhas money and good looks, but therehis claims to admiration end. The firstyou do not require for your daughter, andthe second would have no weight with anyonebut a woman. To place against thesesupposed advantages, Mr Walcheren is ayoung man of dissolute habits, and lavishexpenditure. You should hear what hiscousin, Philip Walcheren, says of him.’
‘I want no one’s opinion but my own,’replied Mr Crampton vehemently. ‘Jennywill have all my money by-and-by, andshe shall marry no man that will makeducks and drakes of it. Besides, he isn’tgood enough for her in any way. Hethinks, I suppose, becau