CHAPTER XXXIII 484
" No, indeed! I remember now seeing the letter E. comprised in your initials written in books you have at different times lent me; but I never asked for what name it stood. But what then? Surely-- "
I stopped: I could not trust myself to entertain, much less to express, the thought that rushed upon me-- that embodied itself,-- that, in a second, stood out a strong, solid probability. Circumstances knit themselves, fitted themselves, shot into order: the chain that had been lying hitherto a formless lump of links was drawn out straight,-- every ring was perfect, the connection complete. I knew, by instinct, how the matter stood, before St. John had said another word; but I cannot expect the reader to have the same intuitive perception, so I must repeat his explanation.
" My mother ' s name was Eyre; she had two brothers; one a clergyman, who married Miss Jane Reed, of Gateshead; the other, John Eyre, Esq., merchant, late of Funchal, Madeira. Mr. Briggs, being Mr. Eyre ' s solicitor, wrote to us last August to inform us of our uncle ' s death, and to say that he had left his property to his brother the clergyman ' s orphan daughter, overlooking us, in consequence of a quarrel, never forgiven, between him and my father. He wrote again a few weeks since, to intimate that the heiress was lost, and asking if we knew anything of her. A name casually written on a slip of paper has enabled me to find her out. You know the rest." Again he was going, but I set my back against the door.
" Do let me speak," I said; " let me have one moment to draw breath and reflect." I paused-- he stood before me, hat in hand, looking composed enough. I resumed-
" Your mother was my father ' s sister?" " Yes." " My aunt, consequently?" He bowed.