Mary Seaham, Volume 2 of 3

hority and s

sin cover it

ESPE

ong with an in

t rule to their

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ene Trevor at the hotel, in which he had eas

at hour, but purposed proceeding there to demand an intervi

s favour (in the brother's eyes) that he found him seated in a private room in t

n, expressing his pleasure at seeing him again. Then when the waiter, who staid to clear the table, had withdrawn and closed the door, and Arthur, who had r

brought you here to-night. You come, of cour

my sister," was the calm, bu

ot been perceptible in his former utterance. "She, Mary, told

ng which made her desirous to communicate with you, through me, feeling herself une

d his eyes upon the young man's

tone, "that the interview to which you allude was calculated much to raise my sis

his head in

g over his brow; "and it is but natural that you, her brother, s

ing of bitterness and tender feeling in his tone, "that in her case no explanation or satisfaction is required. No, rather, I have to assure you, that her trust and confidence still remain unmoved, and only for your own sake does she now desire an

ager agitation, at this

aimed, "she surely cannot,

had caused, was truthfully imaged there; and on the whole he was not dissatisfied by the inspection; at least, if the deep glow first overspreading his brow,

lties and annoyances"-with some severe stress upon the latter words, "which your engagement to her seems suddenly to have been the means of scattering on your path. Or if not this," he hastily added, as Trevor again made an effor

partment in agitated silence. Then he returned to his seat

ised from the ground, "Seaham, let me explain to you a little the circumstances of my present po

some light was to be thrown on the imp

if with difficulty; "but I must not shrink from breaking it now

murmure

ion in which I at the same time stand

-at least, in trust for his elder brother, was almost a decided arrangement, and that his inheritance to the most considerable part of his father's large fortune was certain; but whether

case is this: My father is, and has ever been, very peculiar in his pecuniary views and arrangements. He has, as you were made to understand, most surely, and decidedly favoured me, with regard to the inheritance. I do stand in every possible respect in the position of

nces?" quietly demand

clearly ascertained, then, perhaps, proceedings, from which our feelings in the first instance shrunk, mi

scertained?" persisted Arthur, though in

no trace of him discovered. Every search and enquiry has been-and still is in prosecution; some doubts even are entertained as to his death." He paused; then passing his hand over his brow, as if to prevent further discussion of a subject against w

in silence for sever

rd to your marriage. One circumstance rather surprises me, that your father, aware as he must have been of the restraint thus imposed upon your powers of making a

proceeding, calculated in the least degree, to touch upon his ruling passion, or as I may now term it in his present stage of existence-his ruling weakness; that is to say, any measure that would in the least degree disturb, or infringe upon the close and arbitrary arrangements of his financial affairs-arrang

ham, an angry flush mounting to his brow; the position in which the cruel, sordid, cunning

possible dependant on his most arbitrary and capricious will. You would not think this perhaps, to behold him now-to all appearance, that meek and mild old man. But so it is; see

angements suggested by my sister are the only alternatives; either," and he looked

er of the promise she once made to me upon the subject, and tell her, that on my part, no power on earth shall compel me to give her up. No," he murmured, his eye gleami

man certainly loves my sister with a strength and sincerity not

e perhaps to her o

observed, no other alternative. Say, some months-

lpiece, and pressed his brow upon his

e to the necessity of postponing matters. During that time," he added

er?" Trevor ea

nd, where she may probably remain some ti

Trevor exclaim

umstances, would be either necessary or desireable. Interviews for instance, such as the one by wh

have no further desire to remain. Like one subdued and exhausted in min

or could be referred to at any time at the Tem