he, "after all, your speculation may not be a bad
one; but pray, what is the lady's name?"

"Riddle--Miss Riddle. She is of the Clan-Riddle family, a close relation
to the Nethersides of Middle town."

"And a devilish enigmatical name it is," replied her son, "as is that of
all her connections."

"Yes, but they were always close and prudent people, who kept their
opinions to themselves, and wrought their way in the world with great
success, and without giving offence to any party. If you marry her,
Harry, I would advise you to enter public life, recommend yourself to
the powers that be, and, my word for it, you stand a great chance of
having the title of Cockletown revived in your person."

"Well, although the title is a ridiculous one, I should have no
objection to it, notwithstanding; but there will certainly arise some
difficulty when we come to the marriage settlements. There will be sharp
lawyers there, whom we cannot impose upon; and you know, mother, I am
without any ostensible property."

"Yes, but we can calculate upon the death of cunning Alice, who, by her
undue and flagitious influence over your uncle, left you so."

"Ay, but such a calculation would never do either with her uncle or the
lawyers. I think we have nothing to fall back upon, mother, but your own
property. If you settle that upon me everything will go right."

"And leave myself depending upon Lindsay? No, no," replied this selfish
and penurious woman; "never, Harry--never, never; you must wait until I
die for that. But I can tell you what we can do; let us enter upon the
negotiation--let us say for the time being that you have twelve hundred
a-year, and, while the business is proceeding, what is there to prevent
you from going to recruit your health at Balleyspellan, and kill out
Alice Goodwin there, as well as if she remained at home? By this plan,
before the negotiations are closed, you will be able to meet Miss Riddle
with twelve hundred a-year at your back. Alice Goodwin! O, how I hate
and detest her--ay, as I do hell!"

"The plan," replied her son, "is an excellent one. We will commence
operations with Lord Cockletown and Miss Riddle, in the first place; and
having opened negotiations, as you say, I shall become unwell, and go
for a short time to try what efficacy the waters of Ballyspellan may
have on my health--or rather on my fortunes."

"We shall visit them to-morrow," said the mother.

"So be it," replied the son; and to th