an and
a gentleman, attempt to urge this marriage, on which you seem to have
set your heart, between Charles and Goodwin's daughter. You are not
aware of what I know upon this subject. She and Ferdora O'Connor are
about to be married; but I will not mention what I could mention until
after that ceremony shall have taken place."

"Well," said his sister, "you appear to speak very sincerely, Harry, but
I know and feel that there is some mistake somewhere."

"Harry," said Lindsay, "from what has occurred this morning, I shall be
guided by you. I will not press this marriage, neither shall I stoop to
seek an explanation."

"Thank you, sir," replied Harry. "I advise you as I do because I would
not wish to see our whole family insulted in your person."

Maria and her brother Charles looked at each other, and seemed to
labor under a strange and somewhat mysterious feeling. The confidence,
however, with which Harry spoke evidently depressed them, and, as they
entertained not the slightest suspicion of his treachery, they left the
apartment each with a heavy heart.

Harry, from this time forward, associated more with his brother than he
had done, and seemed to take him more into his confidence. He asked him
out in all his sporting expeditions; and proposed that they should each
procure a shooting dress of the same color and materials, which was
accordingly done; and so strongly did they resemble each other, when
dressed in them, that in an uncertain light, or at a distance, it was
nearly impossible to distinguish the one from the other. In fact, the
brothers were now inseparable, Harry's object being to keep Charles as
much under his eye and control as possible, from an apprehension that,
on cool reflection, he might take it into his head to satisfy himself
by a personal interview with Alice Goodwin as to the incomprehensible
change which had estranged her affection from him.

Still, although the affection of those brothers seemed to increase, the
conduct of Harry was full of mystery. That the confidence he placed
in Charles was slight and partial admitted of no doubt. He was in the
habit, for instance, of going out after the family had gone to bed, as
we have mentioned before; and it was past all doubt that he had been
frequently seen accompanied, in his midnight rambles, by what was known
in the neighborhood as the Black Spectre, or, by the common people, as
the _Shan-dhinne-dhue_, or the dark old man. These facts invest