id that I should add to your
sorrow; my only desire is to relieve and heal!"

"May I indeed trust in my father? Oh, what a question to ask myself! Yet--"

"Yet what? Speak fully, and let us for once open our hearts to each other
without reserve."

"Yet I fear I have had cause to make the inquiry."

"I fear so too, my dear; but let us now understand each other. I hope much
from such an understanding."

"What would you draw from me?"

"The secret of your unhappiness."

"Do you not know it already?"

"I surmise the cause."

"And you think--"

"I _fear_ it is because you love Charles Hadley."

"Why do you _fear_ that is the cause?"

"Because he is unworthy of your love."

"Oh, do not say so! Is poverty a mark of unworthiness?"

"No, it is not; if he was only poor I would give my consent to your union
to-day; but I am sorry to say he is wicked as well as poor."

"What mean you? You surely can allege nothing against one so noble, and
possessed of such pure principles, as Charles Hadley?"

"Alas, my daughter, he has basely deceived you."

"Father!"

"I would not say so on slight grounds, but it is too sadly true."

"I must have proof, strong proof, ere I can believe that he is false."

"Could you bear such an exposure?"

"Yes."

"Then you shall have the evidence of his guilt at once."

Saying this, he produced the letter before spoken of, and placed it in her
hands for perusal.

It would be impossible to describe Eveline's feelings while examining the
contents of the letter. At first, the evidence appeared so conclusive and
overwhelming her strong faith in her lover was shaken; but a second reading
and second thoughts restored her confidence, yet she could hardly account
for the change in her feelings and judgment, the evidence was just as
strong as before, and she could not help acknowledging the fact; she only
knew that she _felt_ Hadley was innocent; and she would trust this
intuitive conviction in preference to any anonymous communication that
could be produced against him. But what should she say to her parent? How
could she impress him with her own feelings, or even fix a doubt of
Hadley's guilt in his mind? While she was revolving these things in her
mind, Mr. Mandeville kept his eye upon her, and noted every change of
expression that passed over her face. At length he said:

"What do you think of that?"

The question found her still in doubt as to what she should say in defense
of her