EPILOGUE.
A SINGLE year has passed since the episode which brought our last
chapter to a close.
The new Barncastle of Burningford is well and happy in the paths of
pleasantness and peace, into which he was so unexpectedly and so
unwittingly brought. His daughter has become engaged to a promising
scion of a neighbouring house of large means and high estate in the
social world. Hopkins Toppleton is in New York, busy at the practice of
the law, developing a genius in the profession he had adopted for the
convenience of his partners at which they stand amazed; steadily forging
his way to the front, his energy, his aggressiveness, and extraordinary
fertility of resource dazzling all beholders.
As for the weary spirit,--alas for him! He still whistles, wearily,
through space, hopeless and forlorn, but at all times a welcome visitor
to Burningford, whither he personally went, shortly after Toppleton's
departure for New York, to lay his petition at the feet of Barncastle
himself. He knows now what has happened to his young counsel, and his
regret for himself is tempered by his regret for what he has brought
upon him who so nobly undertook to champion his cause, for the quondam
Toppleton has concealed from his first client the happiness that he
feels over the strange metamorphosis in his fortunes, lest, comparing it
with his own miserable condition, the exile may become more unhappy than
ever.
THE END.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Page viii, Table of Contents, "232" changed to "233" to reflect actual
place of Chapter XV.
Page 11, "depature" changed to "departure" (preparations for departure)
Page 60, "irrefragible" changed to "irrefragable" (an absolutely
irrefragable)
Page 96, "n" changed to "in" (in the face of)
Page 177, "stong" changed to "strong" (a strong point)
Page 188, "sentitiments" changed to "sentiments" (to be, with
sentiments)
Page 229, "thousand" changed to "thousands" (has travelled thousands)
End of Project Gutenberg's Toppleton's Client, by John Kendrick Bangs