ing handsome out of the heir--and but for your interference I
might have got something out of the Melvilles."

"Nonsense!" said Brandon; "they have nothing to give, unless you gave
the property to them; and you cannot do that."

"I'm glad you're to get nothing with your sweetheart," said Mrs. Peck,
maliciously. "My daughter's maid, I suppose, is the person Half of
Cross Hall would have been a good fortune, but you're not to get it."

"You must not come to Mrs. Phillips's again. I am going to stay in the
house till her husband returns, and will protect her from you," said
Brandon.

"Protect her from her own mother!" said Mrs. Peck. "Let them hold their
heads as high as they like, they can't get out of that. I am her
mother, and if I like I will publish it. Her father was a gentleman. I
was in clover when I lived with him; but he married, and then he died
and left no provision for us; and then I fell in with Peck, and have
stuck by him ever since. He is in Adelaide now, where I wish I had
stopped with him with all my heart. Do you think as Phillips would
overlook this if I went back quiet, and keep sending me the poor little
allowance as I need to keep soul and body together, for I'm an old
woman now, and past working?"

"I do not know. I will speak to him on the subject, and will probably
see you again in a few days. If you can think of any collateral
evidence in the meantime, it will be as well that you tell me. In the
meantime, I must go to communicate to Miss Melville what you have told
me."

Elsie was sadly disappointed at the doubtful nature of the evidence
which Mrs. Peck had to give. She had had such brilliant visions of the
happiness which Jane and Francis might have together if it could only
be proved that they were not cousins; and she could not help seeing
with Brandon that the chance of establishing it was very small. Brandon
told Mrs. Phillips the reason why Mrs. Peck had so assiduously courted
Elsie, and then asked if she could recollect anything which she had
heard from her mother, her grandmother, or Peck, which would
corroborate these unsupported statements.

"I cannot say anything--I will not say a word till Stanley comes home,
and then I will tell him. He would not like my mixing myself up with
her in any way when he was gone, and I never will keep anything from
him," said Mrs. Phillips.

"You are quite right," said Brandon, who, nevertheless, was rather
impatient for any information she migh