Tom Claypool of Norfolk saw 'em both at Ranelagh; and Jack Morris
came out of White's, where he heard the story from Harry Warrington's
own lips. Curse him, I'm glad of it!" roars Will, slapping the table.
"What do you think of your Fortunate Youth, your Virginian, whom your
lordship made so much of, turning out to be a second son?"

"The elder brother not dead?" says my lord.

"No more dead than you are. Never was. It's my belief that it was a
cross between the two."

"Mr. Warrington is incapable of such duplicity!" cries Maria.

"I never encouraged the fellow, I am sure you will do me justice there,"
says my lady. "Nor did Fanny: not we, indeed!"

"Not we, indeed!" echoes my Lady Fanny.

"The fellow is only a beggar, and, I dare say, has not paid for the
clothes on his back," continues Will. "I'm glad of it, for, hang him, I
hate him!"

"You don't regard him with favourable eyes; especially since he blacked
yours, Will!" grins my lord. "So the poor fellow has found his brother,
and lost his estate!" And here he turned towards his sister Maria, who,
although she looked the picture of woe, must have suggested something
ludicrous to the humourist near whom she sate; for his lordship, having
gazed at her for a minute, burst into a shrill laugh, which caused the
poor lady's face to flush, and presently her eyes to pour over with
tears. "It's a shame! it's a shame!" she sobbed out, and hid her face
in her handkerchief. Maria's stepmother and sister looked at each other.
"We never quite understand your lordship's humour," the former lady
remarked, gravely.

"I don't see there is the least reason why you should," said my lord,
coolly. "Maria, my dear, pray excuse me if I have said--that is, done
anything, to hurt your feelings."

"Done anything! You pillaged the poor lad in his prosperity, and laugh
at him in his ruin!" says Maria, rising from table, and glaring round at
all her family.

"Excuse me, my dear sister, I was not laughing at him," said my lord,
gently.

"Oh, never mind at what or whom else, my lord! You have taken from him
all he had to lose. All the world points at you as the man who feeds on
his own flesh and blood. And now you have his all, you make merry over
his misfortune!" And away she rustled from the room, flinging looks of
defiance at all the party there assembled.

"Tell us what has happened, or what you have heard, Will, and my
sister's grief will not interrupt us." And Will told, at gre