"The other against the unfortunate executors. Perhaps I am wrong, but all this is so sudden that I must confess to being a little off my regular balance."

"Look here, sir," cried the young man bluffly. "I have pa.s.sed my life among tough, lawless men; but there are plenty out West who are true, rough nature's gentlemen. My father was one of these, and I've tried to follow out his teachings. I suppose I shall have to do what you say--go to law; but if it is made plain to me that you and your fellow executor have done your duty as gentlemen, and have unwittingly been imposed upon, why I'd sooner give up everything than come down upon you."

"Thank you, sir, thank you," said the old man in a low tone; "thank you for myself and for Doctor Lawrence."

"Doctor Lawrence!" cried the young man with animation; "ah, I know him by name."

"And I say thank you, too, Mr George Harrington," began Mrs Hampton.

"My dear Rachel," said the old lawyer reprovingly, "you are making an admission."

"Of course I am. I said Mr George Harrington, because I believe firmly that we have been imposed upon. I am glad to see you back again, George," she continued, holding out her hand; "and you may depend upon having my help. There, there, there, Phineas, don't look at me like that," she continued, as the young man grasped her hand. "You feel the same as I do in your human heart, though you cannot in your legal mind.

My making an admission does not injure your position behind your books.

I say we have been tricked, and the sooner we repent in sackcloth and ashes the better."

"Come," cried the young man, "here's sunshine through the clouds. I have your support, madam, and that of our dear old granny here."

"Yes, yes," said the old housekeeper, who had wept herself nearly blind, and quite dry. "It's him, Mr Hampton. Oh, I'm sure it's him."

"That's right, old lady; and now I want to enlist another's sympathy in my cause. Miss Bellwood--Gertrude--I came here to-night to claim my heritage, and to see the lady who would, in all probability, be my wife.

You will shake hands?"

He held out his brown, sinewy hand and gazed in the troubled eyes before his, as the poor girl stood trembling by Mrs Hampton's side, while the rest looked on curiously.

For one moment she shrank and hesitated, then, as if unable to resist the influence of the eyes which held hers, she slowly raised her hand, to have it clenched with a firm, strong pressure, before it was raised to the holder's lips to be reverently kissed and then let fall.

"This is really very much out of order," said Mr

Hampton querulously. "I ought not to sit here and--"

"Allow it, sir? Well, perhaps not. There, it is growing late. I will not inflict my presence upon you longer; and you may rely upon it, ladies, that everything shall be done so as to cause you as little anxiety as possible."

"I am glad to hear you say that," cried Mr Hampton. "When can I meet this man, sir?"

"Really, I cannot say. At present I am under the impression that he has gone to Paris, and he may not be back for some days."

"Then why should I not turn the tables on him, and take possession here?"

"It cannot be done, sir," said the old man firmly.

"But suppose I insist."

"If you are the true George Harrington, sir, you will act as a gentleman should, and take proper steps to make good your claim."

"Ah! now you disarm me. There: I will go now. Miss Bellwood, Mrs Hampton, whatever happens in the future you may believe in me.

Good-night."

He shooks hands again.

"Mr Hampton, I shall come in the morning and have a long talk with you."

"You are staying in town?"

"I shall stay in town at Jay's Hotel, Surrey Street."

"Then you will be close to my chambers in Lincoln's Inn. I will be there, and expect you at twelve."

"And when shall I see Doctor Lawrence?"

"At twelve to-morrow, at my place."

"Good-night, then; you, too, will shake hands."

"As soon as you prove yourself to be George Harrington."

"Quite right, sir. Good-night. You will show me the way out, granny."

"And with a sorrowful heart, my dear," said the old woman. "To think of my having to turn you away from your own old home."

"Only for a while, old lady," said the young man; and pa.s.sing his arm round her he left the room.

No one moved till the gate had been heard to clang, when, without word or look, Gertrude turned and hurried up to her chamber, to fling herself upon her knees, sobbing violently.

"And I have promised to be his wife," she moaned. "What shall I do?

What shall I do?"

"Well, Phineas," said Mrs Hampton, after she had stood looking frowningly at her husband for some time as he sat tapping the table, "what have you to say to all this?"

"Eh? Nothing."

"But you see that was the real man."

"No, I don't. He must prove it."

"But this other one."

"Is to us Mr George Harrington."

"But when he comes back from Paris what will he say?"

"I'm beginning to think, Rachel, that he has gone."

"Well, we know he has gone."

"But I mean for good."

"He couldn't. It's not in him. Gone for bad, you mean."