t give, and thought it might be
valuable, from her hesitation about the matter. He had not long to
wait, however, for Mr. Phillips came down on the following day, and
heard all his wife had to say and all Brandon had to say.

"You know, Brandon, that it would be horrible to me to have my wife's
name brought into a court of justice as the daughter of that
woman--cognizant, even in a very vague way, of such a serious crime,"
said Mr. Phillips. "And what purpose can it serve? You can neither
enrich Jane or Alice Melville by proving that the crime was committed.
Mr. Hogarth is as worthy a successor as the old man could have found,
and neither of the Melvilles grudges him his good fortune. Alice will
be as comfortable as you can make her, and I wish you both joy from all
my heart, and I believe you will be happy. Miss Melville will be as
comfortable and happy as we can make her till she chooses a home for
herself. Why wish to rake up old stories for no good end whatever? I
dare say the story is true. I said to Hogarth when he and Miss Melville
consulted me about the first letter she wrote, that for the very reason
she claimed to be his mother I believed she was not. I advised him not
to write to her or send her money, and requested Miss Melville never to
mention her name."

"Out of consideration for you, then, he did not answer her letter, and
this has been the result of it. But we have no wish to deprive him of
his property; and the only end we aim at is to prove that he is not
Miss Melville's cousin. Alice tells me they love each other; but their
marriage is forbidden by the will, unless at the sacrifice of the
property, which in that case goes to some benevolent societies."

"Ah," said Phillips, thoughtfully, "in that case, if I thought Mrs.
Phillips's evidence could establish it, it would perhaps be right to
give it; but it cannot--I see it cannot. Mere vague hints, half
recollected now that the subject has been brought prominently forward,
though they may convince you and me, could not stand before a court of
law. I think when you hear what Mrs. Phillips has to say you will
confess that it would be wrong to put her and me to such distress, for
so little good purpose. I am sure Miss Melville would be the first to
dissuade you from such a course. It is for the sake of our children
that I am so anxious to conceal the connection. I can trust to you and
to Alice, I hope, never to mention it."

Brandon felt the justice of