nothing, and I pulled out the notes and laid
them on the table. Lionel walked to and
fro in silence for some time. He appeared
to be hesitating whether to accept them or
not: though I never doubted that he would
decide to accept them after a little show of
reluctance.

"John," said he, at last; "you know well
that while my uncle lived, I would not have
taken a sixpence from him. I am in nowise
changed now. For myself, though my uncle
is dead, and no one perhaps would have a
better right to this money than I, I would
still reject it. But other considerations tempt
me. The power of shielding a friend from
ruin is now most unexpectedly placed within
my reach. It would be folly to refuse it."

"I care not to what use you put it, Lionel," I
replied. " I had a commission to perform—and
I have performed it. I wish you a very good
night."

I dare say I might have listened for an
hour longer to his remonstrances, and thanks,
and compliments to my honourable principles;
but I was already sick of his hypocrisy. I
snatched up my hat and groping my way
down in the dark before he had time to light
me, I left the house.

My mind was easier that night. I knew
that I had done an act of which any man
would have a right to be proud. I never
expected gratitude in return. I believed it my
duty to do it, and I did it, and there was an
end of it. I do not say that I never regretted
it afterwards, or that I would do the same
now. I hope I am a little wiser than I was
then.

The very next afternoon I set out again to
see Augusta. I felt lighter of heart than I
had been for many months. I thought I was
about to live in peace at last, and I rode on,
musing upon this theme, till I came into the
town. I was but a short distance from the
house—my horse walking slowly after a sharp
trot—when I was aroused by a voice calling
me. It was old Cobb himself, and he was
walking the way I was going.

"Glad to see you," said he. " I should
have gone over to your house to-night. I
had a great deal to say to you." I thought
he was about to put me off again with
words, but I was firmly resolved to be
trifled with no longer. I followed him into
his counting-house, and, as soon as we were
seated, I told him that I had come determined
to speak to Augusta myself.

"Augusta is a fool," said he, shaking his
head as if he was much concerned at some
course she had taken. " She is my only child;
but I am sorry to say she is a fool."

I was not deceived by this piece of acting.
"Have you spoken to her, according to your
promise? " said I, rather sharply.

"I did hint to her last night," he replied,
' that is to say, I just in a casual way
alluded to the probability of a gentleman—a
friend of mine whom she knew—a very
honourable gentleman, possessed of considerable
property, making her an offer of marriage."

I knew that he was fooling me; but I kept
my temper, and requested to know her
answer.

"Oh! " he continued, " she set me quite
at defiance; said that she had chosen a
husband already, and meant to be married at once,
and that I must take her husband into
partnership with me."

"Mr. Cobb," said I, " I feel that you have
been deceiving me. I will at once appeal to
Augusta herself."

"Do," he replied. " I would prefer it. I
know you will always tax me with this unless
you hear it from her own lips. Her future
husband will be here to-day. You may stay
and see him also, if you please; though for
myself, of course, I would like to avoid
anything disagreeable. I am sure I have taken
pains enough to prevent his seeing you, or
hearing of your visits. I like peace."

"Mr. Cobb," said I. " I know you to be a
great scoundrel. I am determined now
to have nothing to do with you or your
daughter."

"I am very sorry," said Cobb. " I should
have been glad to see her married to a man
of property if it could have been so arranged."

"You shall repent of these insults," said I,
for I felt much exasperated by his coolness.
"I wish you a good day."

"Stay," said he, unlocking a drawer of his
desk and pulling out a pocket-book. " As we
may probably not see each other very
frequently, we had better settle those judgment
debts. If you will write me a discharge, I
will give you the money."

I hastily wrote the discharge and took up
the notes which he offered me. I was not at
all surprised to find that they were the very
notes I had given to my brother the night
before. I saw at once the conspiracy of which
I had been the victim.

"You have no need to tell me who is my
rival in this matter, Mr. Cobb," said I. " My
brother Lionel is a villain, an ungrateful
villain." I was too much hurt to say more then.
I was sick of the hypocrisy and ingratitude that
I had met with, and I left the place abruptly,
thereby disappointing them no doubt of that
little scene, which my amiable brother had
planned for my humiliation. I know that
Lionel pretends that he never heard of these
things till long after his marriage with
Augusta: that he declares that he lent the
money to pay off a debt in ignorance of the
exact use it was to be applied to; and that
he feigns to blame old Cobb for bidding
Augusta conceal from him that I occasionally
visited there, under the pretext of motives
of delicacy, as we were not good friends. I ask
any one to judge from what I have related,
whether this is probable.

My persecutors were not done with me yet.
I knew that they spread abroad the whole