honour so nice, of heart so
feeling, could not feign readily. His denial did not deceive me."

"Honest man!" said Harley; and his hand griped at the breast over which
still rustled, as if with a ghostly sigh, the records of the dead. "He
knew she had left a son, too?"

"He did, my Lord; of course, I told him that."

"The son whom I found starving in the streets of London! Mr. Dale,
as you see, your words move me very much. I cannot deny that he who
wronged, it may be with no common treachery, that young mother--for Nora
Avenel was not one to be lightly seduced into error--"

"Indeed, no!"

"And who then thought no more of the offspring of her anguish and
his own crime--I cannot deny that that man deserves some
chastisement,--should render some atonement. Am I not right here? Answer
with the plain speech which becomes your sacred calling."

"I cannot say otherwise, my Lord," replied the parson, pitying what
appeared to him such remorse. "But if he repent--"

"Enough," interrupted Harley. "I now invite you to visit me at Lansmere;
give me your address, and I will apprise you of the day on which I will
request your presence. Leonard Fairfield shall find a father--I was
about to say, worthy of himself. For the rest--stay; reseat yourself.
For the rest"--and again the sinister smile broke from Harley's eye and
lip--"I will not yet say whether I can, or ought to, resign to a younger
and fairer suitor the lady who has accepted my own hand. I have
no reason yet to believe that she prefers him. But what think you,
meanwhile, of this proposal? Mr. Avenel wishes his nephew to contest
the borough of Lansmere, has urged me to obtain the young man's consent.
True, that he may thus endanger the seat of Mr. Audley Egerton. What
then? Mr. Audley Egerton is a great man, and may find another seat; that
should not stand in the way. Let Leonard obey his uncle. If he win the
election, why, he 'll be a more equal match, in the world's eye, for
Miss Digby, that is, should she prefer him to myself; and if she do not,
still, in public life, there is a cure for all private sorrow. That is
a maxim of Mr. Audley Egerton's; and he, you know, is a man not only
of the nicest honour, but the deepest worldly wisdom. Do you like my
proposition?"

"It seems to me most considerate, most generous."

"Then you shall take to Leonard the lines I am about to write."

LORD L'ESTRANGE TO LEONARD FAIRFIELD.

I have read the memoir you intrusted