uld otherwise have inherited it. And do you
imagine for a moment that Harry Woodward himself ever felt one emotion
of personal affection for me? If you do you are quite mistaken. I
knew and felt all along--even while he was assuming the part of the
lover--that he actually hated, not only me, but every one of the family.
His object was the property, and so was that of his mother; but I
absolve all the other members of the family from any knowledge of, or
participation in, their schemes. As it is, if you wish to see yourselves
childless you will allow his, visits, or, if not, you will never permit
his presence under this roof again. I fear, however, that it is now
too late--you see that I am already on the brink of the grave, in
consequence of the evil influence which the dreadful villain has gained
over me, and, indeed," she added, bursting into tears, "I have, at this
moment, no hopes of recovery. My strength, both bodily and mental, is
gone--I am as weak as an infant, and I see nothing before me but an
early grave. I have also other sorrows, but even to you I will not
disclose them--perhaps on my bed of death I may."

The last words were scarcely uttered when she fainted. Her parents were
dreadfully alarmed--in a moment both were in tears, but they immediately
summoned assistance. Sarah Sullivan made her appearance, attended by
others of the servants; the usual remedies were applied, and in the
course of about ten or twelve minutes she recovered, and was weeping in
a paroxysm bordering on despair when Harry Woodward entered the room.
This was too much for the unfortunate girl. It seemed like setting the
seal of death to her fate. She caught a glimpse of him. There was the
malignant, but derisive look--one which he meant to be courteous, but
which the bitter feeling within him overshadowed with the gloomy triumph
of an evil spirit. She placed her hands over her eyes, gave one loud
shriek, and immediately fell into strong convulsions.

"Good heavens!" exclaimed Woodward, "what is the matter with Miss
Goodwin? I am sincerely sorry to see this. Is not her health good?"

"Pray, sir," replied her father, "how did you come to obtrude yourself
here at such a moment of domestic distress?"

"Why, my dear sir," replied Woodward, "of course you must know that I
was ignorant of all this. The hall-door was open, as it generally is, so
was the door of this room, and I came in accordingly, as I have been in
the habit of doing, to p