ill not be a
pound less in value on that account; that's one comfort."

"And is it upon this hollow and treacherous principle that you are about
to pay them a friendly visit?" asked her husband, with ill-repressed
indignation.

"Lindsay," she replied, sharply, "I perceive you are rife for a
quarrel now; but I beg to tell you, sir, that I will neither seek your
approbation nor regard your authority. I must manage these people after
my own fashion."

"Harry," said his step-father, turning abruptly, and with incredulous
surprise to him, "surely it is not possible that you are a party to such
a shameful imposture upon this excellent family?"

His brother Charles fastened his eyes upon him as if he would read his
heart.

"I am sorry, sir," replied that gentleman, "that you should think it
necessary to apply the word imposture to any' proceeding of mine. You
ought to know my mother's outspoken way, and that her heart is kinder
than her language. The fact is, from the first moment I saw that
beautiful girl I felt a warm interest in her, and I feel that interest
increasing every day. I certainly am very anxious to secure her for her
own sake, whilst I candidly admit that I am not wholly indifferent to
the property. I am only a common man like others, and not above the
world and its influences--who can be that lives in it? My mother,
besides, will come to think better of Alice, and all of them, when she
shall be enabled to call Alice daughter; won't you, mother?"

The mother, who knew by the sentiments which he had expressed to her
before on this subject, that he was now playing a game with the
family, did not consider it prudent to contradict him; she consequently
replied,--

"I don't know, Harry; I cannot get their trick about the property out
of my heart; but, perhaps, if I saw it once more where it ought to be, I
might change. That's all I can say at present."

"Well, come, Harry," said Lindsay--adverting to what he had just
said--"I think you have spoken fairly enough; I do--it's candid; you are
not above this world; why should you be?--come, it is candid."

"I trust, sir, you will never find me un-candid, either on this or any
other subject."

"No; I don't think I shall, Harry. Well, be it so--setting your mother
out of the question,--proceed with equal candor in your courtship. I
trust you deserve her, and, if so, I hope you may get her."

"If he does not," said Maria, "he will never get such a wife."

"By