few months, remained at home, receiving
tuition from a young curate, who lived near the Hall; while a governess
had been procured for Mary and Emma Percival, who were growing up very
handsome and intelligent girls.

Such was the state of affairs at the time when Mr Campbell had been
about ten years in possession of the Wexton estate, when one day he was
called upon by Mr Harvey, the head of the firm which had announced to
him his succession to the property.

Mr Harvey came to inform him that a claimant had appeared, and given
notice of his intent to file a bill in Chancery to recover the estate,
being, as he asserted, the son of the person who had been considered as
the presumptive heir, and who had perished so many years back. Mr
Harvey observed, that although he thought it his duty to make the
circumstance known to Mr Campbell, he considered it as a matter of no
consequence, and in all probability would turn out to be a fraud got up
by some petty attorney, with a view to a compromise. He requested Mr
Campbell not to allow the circumstance to give him any annoyance,
stating that if more was heard of it, Mr Campbell should be immediately
informed. Satisfied with the opinion of Mr Harvey, Mr Campbell
dismissed the circumstance from his mind, and did not even mention it to
his wife.

But three months had not passed away before Mr Campbell received a
letter from his solicitor, in which he informed him that the claim to
the estate was carrying on with great vigour, and, he was sorry to add,
wore (to use his own term) a very ugly appearance; and that the opposite
parties would, at all events, put Mr Campbell to very considerable
expense. The solicitor requested Mr Campbell's instructions, again
asserting, that although it was artfully got up, he considered that it
was a fraudulent attempt. Mr Campbell returned an answer, in which he
authorised his solicitor to take every needful precaution, and to incur
all necessary expense. On reflection, Mr Campbell, although much
annoyed, determined not to make Mrs Campbell acquainted with what was
going on; it could only distress her, he thought, and he therefore
resolved for the present to leave her in ignorance.

CHAPTER TWO.

WHAT BECAME OF THE FORTUNE.

After a delay of some months, Mr Harvey called upon Mr Campbell, and
stated to him that the claim of the opposite party, so far from being
fraudulent, as he had supposed, was so clear, that he feared the worst
resul