"Well," said George,
when they paused a moment as they stepped over a plank that crossed
the boundary ditch of the wood: "don't you want to know what that
dear old man has done for you?" Then he looked into her face very
steadfastly. "But perhaps you know already," he added. He had come
out determined not to quarrel with his sister. He had resolved, in
that moment of thought which had been allowed to him, that his best
hope for the present required that he should keep himself on good
terms with her, at any rate till he had settled what line of conduct
he would pursue. But he was, in truth, so sore with anger and
disappointment,--he had become so nearly mad with that continued,
unappeased wrath in which he now indulged against all the world, that
he could not refrain himself from bitter words. He was as one driven
by the Furies, and was no longer able to control them in their
driving of him.

"I know nothing of it," said Kate. "Had I known I should have told
you. Your question is unjust to me."

"I am beginning to doubt," said he, "whether a man can be safe in
trusting any one. My grandfather has done his best to rob me of the
property altogether."

"I told you that I feared he would do so."

"And he has made you his heir."

"Me?"

"Yes; you."

"He told me distinctly that he would not do that."

"But he has, I tell you."

"Then, George, I shall do that which I told him I should do in the
event of his making such a will; for he asked me the question. I told
him I should restore the estate to you, and upon that he swore that
he would not leave it to me."

"And what a fool you were," said he, stopping her in the pathway.
"What an ass! Why did you tell him that? You knew that he would not,
on that account, do justice to me."

"He asked me, George."

"Psha! now you have ruined me, and you might have saved me."

"But I will save you still, if he has left the estate to me. I do not
desire to take it from you. As God in heaven sees me, I have never
ceased to endeavour to protect your interests here at Vavasor. I will
sign anything necessary to make over my right in the property to
you." Then they walked on over the Fell for some minutes without
speaking. They were still on the same path,--that path which Kate and
Alice had taken in the winter,--and now poor Kate could not but think
of all that she had said that day on George's behalf;--how had she
mingled truth and falsehood in her efforts to raise her brothe