leave this house until you
have given me an account of your strange conduct; but in doing thus, if
I find you undeserving of censure, it shall be no sacrifice to your
reputation. I will pledge myself that you lose nothing."

"Since you are determined, sir, I will make a clean breast of it," said
the Signor, dashing several pieces of gold upon the floor,--"there, sir,
is indeed the root of all evil! that gold was placed in my hands by a
woman, who would make me a tool for the carrying out of designs, which I
have not the heart to perform."

"Well."

"Madam, for some cause, has an under current of thought, which does not
appear to be in keeping with the more open sentiments of this family;
for that amount of gold she connived with me to express such sentiments
toward Miss Grosvenor, as should fire you with a belief of her
inconstancy, and an attachment for myself. It was some time before I
could be bought with gold, but she, doubling the amount, I at last
yielded to what, thank God, I have not had strength to perform. Had it
been other than Miss Grosvenor whom I was to injure, I tremble for my
weakness in resisting so great a temptation; but she reminds me too
strongly of the tear which I have seen in my mother's eye, when she
prayed for her baby boy. No, sir, thrice that paltry amount should not
tempt me now to such degradation!"

"You have done well, sir," said Delwood, calmly, as he placed double
the amount of Mrs. Santon's bribe in the Signor's hand; "you have done
well, sir; and mark my words,--gold can never relieve a guilty
conscience! Go, sir, and see that you lisp not a syllable of this to
any one."

Mr. Delwood was about to take his leave, when he was met by Winnie, who
tripped lightly in, fresh from a morning walk. He grasped her hand and
pressed it to his lips, saying,--"You have helped to do away with the
sinful impressions which did their best to fasten themselves upon me.
You will never be forgotten by me, and I know you will do your best to
protect _her_ from the wiles of this hard-hearted woman, of whose deeds
the world shall through me be none the wiser."

"I should be iron-hearted, did I not strive to make her happy; for it is
in pity for my father and his motherless child, that she consents to be
separated from her own loved family."

Mrs. Santon had never the impudence to inquire in what way this matter
terminated, but she could see that her machinations had been foiled, as
day after day brou