was Peggy
Walker; they could give you any information about him you might
require."

"I suppose it is of no use asking you such a question--but do you know
anything of a woman called Mrs. Peck--Elizabeth Peck, a client of----?"

The expression of Mr. Phillips's face stopped Francis' hesitating
disclosure.

"Have nothing to do with her," said he--"a bad one, if ever there was
one on this earth. Good Heavens! what am I to hear next?"

"She says she is my mother," said Francis.

"Perhaps it is not the same woman," said Mr. Phillips. "Your mother!
that must be a very old story; you look to be forty, or thereabouts. It
must be a different person."

The trouble of Mr. Phillips's manner was undergoing some improvement.
He walked across the room two or three times, and then said more
steadily:

"Has she written to you? Would you let me see the hand writing?" The
address was in a different hand from the letter itself, so Francis
could not but show Mr. Phillips the body of the letter.

"May I read it? It is a delicate matter, I know; but I will be
secret--secret as the grave."

Mr. Hogarth assented, and Mr. Phillips read the letter through, and
then returned it.

"She says she is your mother, and for this very reason I believe she is
not, for if ever there was a woman possessed with the spirit of
falsehood, she is that woman. Mr. Hogarth, take no notice of her--do
not answer her letter--send her no money; she is not so poor as she
represents herself to be. I am glad you asked me about her, and no one
else."

"Who is she? what is she?" was rising to Francis' lips, but the sight
of Mr. Phillips's evident suffering checked his questions. After a
short pause, he said that Miss Melville had advised him to consult Mr.
Phillips.

"Good God! did you say anything about this to Miss Melville?" said Mr.
Phillips.

"Yes, I did! I came to consult her on the letter, but it will go no
further; let us call her back. Where is she?" said Francis.

"In the drawing-room," said Mr. Phillips, ringing the bell violently,
"with Mrs. Phillips and Harriett, and Brandon, who has just come in.
Alice is out on some errand, I believe; so that Miss Melville cannot
speak to her, and she surely will not speak on your private matters to
my wife and sister."

Jane was soon brought back to the breakfast-room, in which she had left
her cousin with Mr. Phillips, and was surprised at the disturbed looks
of both gentlemen.

"Mr. Hogarth has ask