Page:Paul Clifford Vol 3.djvu/325

Rh Shortly after that time, Miss Brandon departed to an obscure town by the sea-side; and there refusing all society, she continued to reside. As the birth of Clifford was known but to few, and his legitimacy was unsuspected by all, except, perhaps by Mauleverer, Lucy succeeded to the great wealth of her uncle, and this circumstance made her more than ever an object of attraction in the eyes of her noble adorer. Finding himself unable to see her, he wrote her more than one moving epistle; but as Lucy continued inflexible, he, at length disgusted by her want of taste, ceased his pursuit, and resigned himself to the continued sterility of unwedded life. As the months waned, Miss Brandon seemed to grow weary of her retreat, and immediately on attaining her majority, which she did about eight months after Brandon's death, she transferred the bulk of her wealth to France, where it was understood (for it was impossible that rumour should sleep upon an heiress and a beauty,) that she intended in future to reside. Even Warlock (that spell to the proud heart of her uncle) she ceased to retain. It was offered to the nearest relation of the family, at a sum which he did not hesitate to