requested that it might not be discussed
in her presence. What was very
extraordinary, and very much remarked, was
the invincible repugnance which, ever
since that day at Glenoak, Miss Simpson
appeared to entertain towards Mr.
Cartwright. She studiously avoided him, and
if ever she happened, unavoidably, to find
herself in the same room with him, or even
to meet him in the street, it was noticed
that she became visibly agitated, and turned
away her eyes from him with an expression
of horror. She either could not, or would
not, give any explanation of this conduct,
but gradually and imperceptibly Miss
Simpson's studious avoidance of Mr. Cartwright
affected the relations and intimate friends
of this young lady, with an uncomfortable
and unfavourable impression in regard to
that gentleman. Nor did time, as it went by,
improve either the fortunes, the character,
or the reputation of Philip Cartwright. He
neglected his property more than ever, and
was constantly absent from Glenoak, haunting
the hells, bars, and bowling-alleys of
Richmond and all the neighbouring towns,
apparently with no other purpose than to
get rid of time disreputably. He drank
fiercely, and the effects of habitual
intoxication began to render his character so
savage and sullen that in the course of a
few years he entirely lost that personal
popularity which he had formerly enjoyed.

Poor Virginia Cartwright had a sad and
solitary life of it at Glenoak. Her father's
affection for her was undiminished; nay, it
seemed stronger than ever, but there was a
fierceness and wildness about it which was
rather terrible than soothing. And he
himself had yet the grace to feel that he was
no fit companion for his daughter. He
was rarely with her, and, though numerous
friends at Richmond and in the neighbourhood
never ceased to urge her to visit
them, and always received her with a sort
of compassionate tenderness of manner,
yet their kindness only wounded and
embarrassed her. For Virginia Cartwright
was sensitively proud, and proud even of
her disreputable parent. So the poor young
lady lived in great seclusion at Glenoak, of
which she was undisputed mistress; and
where, by her care and good sense, she
contrived to prevent the property from
altogether going to the dogs.

CHAPTER XI.

ONE afternoon in January (a bright clear
frosty afternoon, when the ice was white
on the James River), Miss Cartwright
ordered her pony carriage and drove
herself over to Richmond. It was just six
years since the date of John Ackland's
visit to Glenoak, and Miss Cartwright was
just sixteen years of age. Any one who
saw her as she drove into Richmond that
afternoon, with the glow in her dark
Southern cheek heightened by the healthy
cold, would have admitted that Virginia
Cartwright had nobly fulfilled John
Ackland's prophecies of her future beauty.
People turned in the street to admire her
as she passed. After visiting various stores
where Miss Cartwright made various little
purchases, the pony carriage stopped at the
door of Mr. D'Oiley, the watchmaker, and
Miss Cartwright alighting, left her watch
with one of the shopmen to be cleaned and
repaired, and returned to her by the postman,
as soon as possible. Just as she was
leaving the shop Mr. D'Oiley entered it
from his back parlour.

"That is a very valuable chronometer of
yours, miss," said Mr. D'Oiley, taking up
the watch and examining it. "Not
American make. No. I never saw but one
watch like this in my life. May I ask,
miss, where you purchased it?"

"I did not purchase it," said Virginia.
"It was a gift, and I value it highly. Pray
be careful of it, and return it to me as soon
as you can." So saying, she left the
shop.

Mr. D'Oiley screwed his microscope into
his eye, opened Miss Cartwright's chronometer,
and probed and examined it. Suddenly
a gleam of triumphant intelligence
illumined Mr. D'Oiley's features. Taking
the watch with him he withdrew into
the back parlour, and, carefully closing
the door, took down from the shelf several
volumes of old ledgers, which he examined
carefully. At last Mr. D'Oiley found what
he was looking for. "The Lord," exclaimed
Mr. D'Oiley, "the Lord has delivered Philip
Cartwright into mine hand!"

After nearly an hour's secret consultation
with the wife of his bosom, Mr. D'Oiley then
repaired to the house of Dr. Simpson, where
he sought and obtained an interview with
that gentleman.

"Dear me!" said Dr. Simpson. "What
is the matter Mr. D'Oiley? You seem
quite excited."

"I am excited, sir. This is a mighty
serious matter, Dr. Simpson. And truly the
ways of Providence are wonderful. Now,
look at this watch. Did you ever see a
watch like it before?"

"Not that I know of," said the doctor.