nsiderations of money when the intention had been first formed, for the lady was possessed of no more than ten thousand pounds, which would have

ices, of mature age, and loomed large in the girl's eyes as a man of undoubted wealth and fashion. At that period, three years antecedent to his father's declaration, he had no doubt been much in debt, but his debts had not been generally known, and his father had still thought that a marriage with his cousin might serve to settle him-to use the phrase which was common with himself. From that day to this the courtship had gone on, and the squire had taught himself to believe that the two cousins were all but engaged to each other. He had so considered it, at any rate, for two years, ti

r of which his father knew nothing. When it was explained to him that his mother's fair name was to be aspersed,-a mother whom he could but faintly remember,-the threat did bring with it its own peculiar agony. But of this the squire neither felt or knew anything. The lady had long been dead, and could be none the better or the

had left London. He had done so in order that he might at once go down to

her condition of life, and she in her innocence had gradually been taught to believe that Captain Scarborough was not a man whom she could be safe in loving. And there had, perhaps, come another as to whom her

r this purpose he he must make known to her the story his father had told him, and his own absolute disbelief in it. Much else must be confided to her. He must acknowledge in part his own debts, and must explain that his father had taken this course in order to defraud the creditors. All this would be very difficult; but he m

once left the room. She had been taught to believe that it was her daughter's duty to marry her cousin; and though she knew that the captain had done much to embarrass the prop

, and when Mrs. Mountjoy at last returned unannou

at is the matter?

ntinued to weep, while the captain stood

oy?" said Mrs. Moun

oubles," said he, "and they seemed

his own folly. It was not wonderful that the girl should not have understood such a story as had then been told her. Why was he defending his mother? Why was he accusing his father? The accusations against her uncle, whom she did know, were more fearful to her than these mysterious charges against her aunt, whom she did not know, from which her son defended her. But then he had spoken passionately of his own love, and she had understood that. He had besought her to confess that she loved him, and then she had at once become stubborn. There was something in the word "confess" which grated against her feelings. It seemed to imply a conviction on his part that she did love him. She had never told him so, and was now sure that it was not so. When he had pressed her she could only weep. But in her weepin

Heaven if he stands in my way, if he dare to cross b

ut this had been very terrible to

ernoon he would again return. In the street of the town he met one of his cr

t is all dis that they are

they talki

, who was a veritable Jew, loo

h an assurance that it should be paid on his father's death,

t ask my

is it

h I for one do not believe a word. I never heard of the story till he condescended to tell it me th

have had

have contrived a very clever plan by which he can rob you; but he will rob me at the sa

ertainly did not believe a wo

avor. Everybody had always intended the marriage, and it would be the setting right of everything. The captain, no doubt, owed a large sum of money, but that would be paid by Florence's fortune. So littl

arborough is not to hav

oughly in entails, had declared th

aughter; "if I-I-I loved him I would marry

lared that she could n

hing that he could say would induce Florence to come into his presence. Her