The Last Man Complete

I LIVED far from the busy haunts of men, and the rumour of wars or political changes came wornto a mere sound, to our mountain abodes. England had been the scene of momentous struggles, during my early boyhood. In the year 2073, the last of its kings, the ancient friend of my father, hadabdicated in compliance with the gentle force of the remonstrances of his subjects, and a republicwas instituted. Large estates were secured to the dethroned monarch and his family; he received thetitle of Earl of Windsor, and Windsor Castle, an ancient royalty, with its wide demesnes were a partof his allotted wealth. He died soon after, leaving two children, a son and a daughter.The ex-queen, a princess of the house of Austria, had long impelled her husband to withstand thenecessity of the times. She was haughty and fearless; she cherished a love of power, and a bittercontempt for him who had despoiled himself of a kingdom. For her children's sake alone sheconsented to remain, shorn of regality, a member of the English republic. When she became awidow, she turned all her thoughts to the educating her son Adrian, second Earl of Windsor, so asto accomplish her ambitious ends; and with his mother's milk he imbibed, and was intended to growup in the steady purpose of re-acquiring his lost crown. Adrian was now fifteen years of age. He wasaddicted to study, and imbued beyond his years with learning and talent: report said that he hadalready begun to thwart his mother's views, and to entertain republican principles. However thismight be, the haughty Countess entrusted none with the secrets of her family-tuition. Adrian wasbred up in solitude, and kept apart from the natural companions of his age and rank. Someunknown circumstance now induced his mother to send him from under her immediate tutelage;and we heard that he was about to visit Cumberland. A thousand tales were rife, explanatory of theCountess of Windsor's conduct; none true probably; but each day it became more certain that weshould have the noble scion of the late regal house of England among us.There was a large estate with a mansion attached to it, belonging to this family, at Ulswater. A largepark was one of its appendages, laid out with great taste, and plentifully stocked with game. I hadoften made depredations on these preserves; and the neglected state of the property facilitated myincursions. When it was decided that the young Earl of Windsor should visit Cumberland, workmenarrived to put the house and grounds in order for his reception. The apartments were restored totheir pristine splendour, and the park, all disrepairs restored, was guarded with unusual care