Mr. Phillips's reasoning, and yet was very
sorry that he could not gratify his promised wife by anything
satisfactory in the way of collateral evidence.

"Now, Elsie," said Brandon, who now took the privilege of love, and
called her by her pet name, "what do you mean to do with this
information? I think it quite useless for the end you wish to gain. Is
it worth while to disturb Hogarth's mind, to lead him to make fruitless
inquiries, to wear himself out in attempting to prove what I fear
cannot be proved, to make him feel that he has robbed you with even
less semblance of justice than before? Can you not leave him to his own
life, which will be a useful and a distinguished one? Let us keep this
vexatious confession, at least till you consult Jane."

"No, no; I think as we have done everything without consulting Jane, we
will make up our minds on this matter too for ourselves. I know Jane
will say with you that we should not communicate the news to Francis;
for anything that appears to sacrifice herself and to save other people
is what she thinks she ought to do."

"I don't think she can be very fond of Hogarth, after all."

"But she is," said Elsie, "in her own quiet, deep way. She could give
her own life for his; but she could not feel that she was worth the
sacrifice he offered to make."

"I feel I could throw up everything for you, Elsie," said Brandon.

"But I should not like to see you do it, so I am very glad you have not
got it to do. Poor Francis!"

"Well, I suppose he will marry some one else, and she will do the same,
and they will always be very excellent friends," said Brandon.

"But then the wrong is to the somebody else," said Elsie. "It seems
quite wicked to think of such a thing. Can they not keep single for a
purpose, as Peggy Walker did? Francis may immerse himself in politics
to his heart's content; and Jane, she will be very happy in my
happiness. You must love her; you must not be jealous of her. She has
been everything in the world to me--my sister, my mother, my friend;
and if she cannot have a home of her own, let her always be welcome to
ours."

"Always," said Brandon. "We must try to do our best to make up for what
we cannot give to her. But you say that Jane would be disposed to keep
back this?"

"Yes; but I will send it, and write to him besides. If I were in his
circumstances I should think I had a right to know. I would rather hear
the truth so far as it can be ascertained abou