Случай Чарльза Декстера Варда
Chapter 2
Hithertoacompletehermit,henowdeterminedtocontractanadvantageousmarriage;securingasabridesomeladywhoseunquestionedpositionwouldmakeallostracismofhishomeimpossible.Itmaybethathealsohaddeeperreasonsforwishinganalliance;reasonssofaroutsidetheknowncosmicspherethatonlypapersfoundacenturyandahalfafterhisdeathcausedanyonetosuspectthem;butofthisnothingcertaincaneverbelearned.Naturallyhewasawareofthehorrorandindignationwithwhichanyordinarycourtshipofhiswouldbereceived,hencehelookedaboutforsomelikelycandidateuponwhoseparentshemightexertasuitablepressure.Suchcandidates,hefound,werenotatalleasytodiscover;sincehehadveryparticularrequirementsinthewayofbeauty,accomplishments,andsocialsecurity.Atlengthhissurveynarroweddowntothehouseholdofoneofhisbestandoldestship-captains,awidowerofhighbirthandunblemishedstandingnamedDuteeTillinghast,whoseonlydaughterElizaseemeddoweredwitheveryconceivableadvantagesaveprospectsasanheiress.Capt.TillinghastwascompletelyunderthedominationofCurwen;andconsented,afteraterribleinterviewinhiscupolaedhouseonPower’sLanehill,tosanctiontheblasphemousalliance.
ElizaTillinghastwasatthattimeeighteenyearsofage,andhadbeenrearedasgentlyasthereducedcircumstancesofherfatherpermitted.
