human
Pray, sit down, said the latter, indicating a chair;
gpt
Ten minutes! An hour, sir, if you wish it. Since the coaches were knocked off the road there ain't----But I needn't trouble you on that score, sir.
human
May I ask whether you have lived in Stavering for any considerable number of years?
gpt
For half a century, sir; a little more or a little less.
human
In that case, you have probably some knowledge of the existence of a family of the name of Pengarvon--the Pengarvons of Broome, I believe they are generally called in these parts.
gpt
There are not many folks in Stavering or for miles round about but what have heard talk of the Pengarvons of Broome. A queer family, sir, very!
human
So I have been told, answered the stranger, dryly.
gpt
Who lives at Broome at the present time?
human
Miss Pengarvon, sir, a lady getting well on into years, eldest daughter of the late Sir Jasper Pengarvon--with whom the title died, there being no heir male in the family.
gpt
Sir Jasper was twice married, was he not?
human
He was, sir. When he died he left two daughters by his first wife and one by his second.
gpt
Just so. Now, as to the daughter by the second wife--she is still living, I presume?
human
That is more than I can say, sir; more than anybody can say, I should imagine, unless it be Miss Pengarvon herself. Miss Isabel--that is the daughter of Sir Jasper's second marriage--ah, what a sweet young lady she was!--ran away, more than twenty years ago, with a gentleman who had been stopping for a couple of months at this very hotel before he and she disappeared. There was a fine to-do, I can tell you, sir, at the time.
gpt
And did Miss Isabel never come back?
human
Never that I heard tell of, sir. It was said that Miss Pengarvon forbade her name ever being mentioned at the Hall, and that she even went so far as to burn such of the poor young lady's clothes as she had left behind her. An old witch, sir, if ever there was one!