Marie's birth I received a letter from Peters. It contained a demand for money. Ostensibly, the sum was required to defray the expenses of my poor son's support; but in the letter was a covert menace which I was not slow to understand. From that moment I knew no peace. Demand followed upon demand, and threat upon threat; till my resources were at an end, and my courage utterly exhausted. How I existed during that time seems little short of a miracle to me now; so harassed were my days, so sleepless the weary nights I passed.'

'It was indeed a living death,' said Alice; 'how could you bear it?'

'As one bears all trials, dear sister, from which there is no escaping; and in time I grew almost accustomed to my cross, and to the daily and hourly presence of the skeleton in my home. The habit of concealment, too, grew at last so strong, that it was as a second nature to me; and gave me less trouble than at first. You know the terrible

consequences that followed on all my guilty and most miserable deceptions; so of that I need not speak. I have had letters from Peters since we have lived here, and in the last of them he mentioned the death of Considine's uncle. One obstacle to the clearing of my reputation was thereby removed. But there were vague allusions in those letters which (did I not know the vile and deeply scheming character of the man) would have alarmed me much. This is what he wrote: "I have again endeavoured to ascertain the exact date of the death of Henry Considine. That he did not die at the time supposed is a fact, and it may become a matter of great importance to you and to your children to know when and where he breathed his last."' 'But, Gertrude,' exclaimed Alice, interrupting her sister, this is vital. Do not you see that he alludes to the possibility that Edgar and Marie may not

'May not have been born in lawful wedlock,' said Gertrude, with a calmness that

was surprising. I too was startled when I first read the words; but, believe me, it is but another scheme to obtain money; not from me (for since he has been convinced of my inability to pay, his exactions have been far less frequent), but from my poor husband who was then alive, and failing him, from the heir of Thornleigh.'

6

'And where is this evil being now?' asked Alice, and does he still hold over you some terrible influence?'

'His last letter announced that he was about to sail for Australia with his helpless charge. God forgive me! But I could almost wish that the waves might engulph him, and that I might never see or hear of him again.'

'And the poor boy?' said Alice, in a hushed whisper.

'Were better in his grave,' answered Lady Thornleigh, solemnly. For those to whom the Almighty has denied the gift of reason must surely be happier in a world where

physical suffering is at an end; and where a righteous Providence will doubtless make them amends for the ills that (through no fault of theirs) they have endured on earth.'

'And now,' resumed Alice, after a pause, during which she had dwelt-perhaps rather too severely-on Gertrude's want of maternal feeling towards her afflicted son, now, thank God, you are free to speak; free to right yourself in the world's opinion. How happy the thought makes me! But, Gertrude, will you not tell me the name of the correspondent from whom you have received. this anonymous packet? Surely there need be no secrets between us now,' she added, seeing that her sister was gathering up the papers, as though she were anxious to conceal them from observation.

I know not. The handwriting of the direction is evidently disguised, but I suspect that is the work of Peters. The packet has been forwarded me from Thornleigh Abbey; and in it, besides the all-important

intelligence which I have communicated to you, there are letters addressed to me by my maiden name, and "to the care of Henry Considine" is written on them. There is also the announcement of the death of my husband, but to whom the announcement was made it is impossible to decipher. The date is erased, and the intelligence is written in the Spanish language. The letters are dated many years back, and are from Pauline, the French maid. The first contains merely an announcement that she is established in business as a dressmaker at Hyères, and in another she asks me for my custom and recommendation.'

'And what will be your next step?' asked Alice.

To write at once to Mrs. Vaughan, and make her our confidante; Alice, I hope I am not grasping, nor seeking with undue impatience after a restoration to riches and consideration-but for all our sakes, for Philip's, for yours-'

VOL. II.

M