ad shared this
dread, but on better acquaintance I found it quite undeserved, and this
being the case it was incumbent on their only relation to stand by
them, and not shun them as if they had brought the leprosy.

This he allowed, calling it a generous feeling, if they were worthy of
it. But what greatly amazed me was his rejoicing that Eustace had
proved to be the heir, since nothing was known against him, and when
the other young man was gone there was hope that any little distrusts
might be allayed, and that he might ultimately take his place in the
county.

The other young man! Why should there be any distrust of Harold? I
grew hot and indignant, and insisted on knowing what was meant; but Mr.
Prosser declared that he knew nothing, only there were vague reports
which made him rejoice that Mr. Harold Alison was not called to be the
manager of the property, and would make him question whether a young
lady would find it expedient to be long an inmate of the same house.

What reports could he mean? No--I could get no more out of him; he was
too cautious to commit himself, and seemed to be satisfied by observing
that if I changed my mind, I could at any time leave my nephews.

"Her nephews," I heard him mutter to himself; "yes, her nephews. No one
has any right to object, and she can but judge for herself--there's no
harm done."

I shall always believe, however, that he set on my friends to
remonstrate, for letters began coming in, in all the senses of the
imperative mood, commanding and entreating me to leave Arghouse. There
was one such as only Lord Erymanth could write. He was an old man, and
never could make short work of anything. They say that his chief
political value was to be set on when anyone was wanted to speak
against time. I know he was very dreadful at all the platforms in the
county; but he was very good and conscientious, and everyone looked up
to him as a sort of father of the country.

But oh! that letter! Such a battery of heavy arguments against my
unprecedented step in taking up my residence with these unfortunate
young men, who, though they had not themselves openly transgressed the
law of the land, yet were the offspring of unhallowed unions with the
children of a felon. I cannot go through it all, but it hinted that
besides their origin, there was some terrible stain on Harold, and that
society could not admit them; so that if I persisted in casting in my
lot with them, I should