ted with
bad men for bad purposes, ere I forbid him the house. I only regret that I
acted so precipitately. I hope, however, all will come right in the end."

"God grant that it may."

Here their intercourse was interrupted by the announcement that Duffel had
called and inquired for Mr. Mandeville.--They returned to the house, and
the two gentlemen had a private interview to the following effect:

"How is Eveline?" inquired Duffel.

"I am happy to say she is very much better."

"I am truly glad to hear that she is convalescing. What do you think is the
state of her feelings in certain delicate matters?"

"I am persuaded her good opinion of Hadley has received a shock from which
it will never recover. That letter, in connection with his present
disappearance, was too much for her faith."

"And well it might be! I do not see how any one could doubt his guilt in
the face of such evidence."

"Yet I think Eveline does doubt; but that the doubt will soon give place to
full conviction, I am quite sure. Once you can fix a partially formed
belief of crime in the mind, and if the evidence continues, especially if
it accumulates, there is a moral certainty of its producing the effect we
desire in the present instance."

"How long do you suppose it will take Eveline to forget any preference she
may have had for Hadley?"

"I do not know."

"Do you not think the exercise of a little paternal authority would
accelerate the accomplishment of your wishes? I hope you will pardon me if
the suggestion is ill-timed or out of taste; it is made in accordance with
a declaration to that effect you will remember to have made to me a short
time previous to your daughter's illness."

"I have not forgotten the declaration to which you allude; it was made in
the heat of a moment of excitement; but I am frank to own that it was then
my determination to use parental authority toward Eveline, in case it
became necessary to do so, in order to bend her will to my purposes. This
intention I have entirely abandoned. I have reflected more dispassionately
on the subject; and I now see clearly that my daughter has rights as well
as myself, and that first in importance among these, is the right to bestow
herself in marriage to whom she chooses. I will continue to give you my
influence, but I have already pledged her my word that she shall be free to
make her own selection of a husband."

"You are right, sir, right. I see wherein we have both err