Thus meditating, Mr. Hardie found himself at the gate of Albion Villa.
Yet he had strolled out with no particular intention of going there. Had
his mind, apprehensive of danger from that quarter, driven his body
thither?
He took a look at the house, and the first thing he saw was a young lady
leaning over the balcony, and murmuring softly to a male figure below,
whose outline Mr. Hardie could hardly discern, for it stood in the
shadow. Mr. Hardie was delighted.
"Aha, Miss Juliet," said he, "if Alfred does not visit you, some one else
does. You have soon supplied your peevish lover's place." He then
withdrew softly from the gate, not to disturb the intrigue, and watched a
few yards off; determined to see who Julia's nightly visitor was, and
give Alfred surprise for surprise.
He had not long to wait: the man came away directly, and walked, head
erect, past Mr. Hardie, and glanced full in his face, but did not
vouchsafe him a word. It was Alfred himself.
Mr. Hardie was profoundly alarmed and indignant. "The young traitor!
Never enter the house? no; but he comes and tells her everything directly
under her window on the sly; and, when he is caught--defies me to my
face.
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