nts to belong to a family,
to be owned and accepted as some one's relative. The man is dying of the
shame of his isolation.

"'Let him marry.'

"'So he means, and I hear to Bramleigh's widow, Lady Augusta.'

"He laughed heartily at this and said, 'It's the only encumbrance on the
property.' And now, Mr. Bramleigh, you are to judge, if you can; is
this the offer of generosity, or is it the crafty proposal of a beaten
adversary? I don't mean to say it is an easy point to decide on, or
that a man can hit it off at once. Consult those about you; take into
consideration the situation you stand in and all its dangers; bethink
you what an adverse verdict may bring if we push them to a trial; and
even if the proposal be, as Mr. Attorney thinks, the cry of weakness, is
it wise to disregard it?"

"Would you have laid such a proposal before my father, Sedley?" said
Bramleigh, with a scarcely perceptible smile.

"Not for five hundred pounds, sir."

"I thought not."

"Ay, but remember your father would never have landed us where we stand
now, Mr. Bramleigh."

Augustus winced under this remark, but said nothing.

"If the case be what you think it, Sedley," said he at last, "this is a
noble offer."

"So say I."

"There is much to think over in it. If I stood alone here, and if my
own were the only interests involved, I think--that is, I hope--I
know what answer I should give; but there are others. You have seen my
sister: you thought she looked thin and delicate--and she may well
do so, her cares overtax her strength; and my poor brother, too, that
fine-hearted fellow, what is to become of _him?_ And yet, Sedley," cried
he suddenly, "if either of them were to suspect that this--this--what
shall I call it?--this arrangement--stood on no basis of right, but was
simply an act of generous forbearance, I 'd stake my life on it, they 'd
refuse it."

"You must not consult _them_, then, that's clear."

"But I will not decide till I do so."

"Oh, for five minutes--only five minutes--of your poor father's strong
sense and sound intellect, and I might send off my telegram to-night!"
And with this speech, delivered slowly and determinately, the old man
arose, took his bedroom candle, and walked away.

CHAPTER LXIV. A FIRST GLEAM OF LIGHT.

After a sleepless, anxious night, in which he canvassed all that Sedley
had told him, Bramleigh presented himself at Jack's bedside as the day
was breaking. Though the sailor was not