lestone," he said, "I hope you will not consider my
present visit an intrusion, when I inform you that I am your near
kinsman, the son of that Edward Wildegrave who held the office of judge
for so many years in India, in which country he died about six years
ago. My father and your mother were first cousins by the father's side.
Brought up in a distant part of England, I never had an opportunity of
falling in with the only remaining branch of the Wildegrave family; and
it was not until the death of my father, which left me an independent
man, that I was even aware of your existence. A few months ago I bought
the property of Milbank, in the parish of Ashton, which once belonged to
my unfortunate uncle; and I heard your history from the wife of our farm
servant, Ruth Candler. This led me to make many inquires about you; and
Ruth's relations were fully confirmed by the statements of my lawyer.
His account of your early trials and singular position created in my
mind such an intense interest in your fate, that I lost no time in
riding over to offer my services, and a share of my house until you can
arrange your plans for the future. I hope you will not refuse to grant
me this favor. My offer is made in the sincerity of friendship; and I
shall be deeply disappointed if you refuse to accept it."

"I will most thankfully accept it," said Anthony, his fine face glowing
with pleasure at this unexpected meeting. "But are you certain, Mr.
Wildegrave, that my doing so will in no way inconvenience you?"

"Inconvenience me? a bachelor! Your society will be a great
acquisition."

"And poor Ruth Candler--is she still living? She was a mother to me
during my motherless infancy, and I shall be so glad to see her again.
As to you, Mr. Wildegrave, I cannot express half the gratitude I feel
for your disinterested kindness. The only circumstance which casts the
least damp upon the pleasure I anticipate in my visit to Ashton, is the
near vicinity of my father, who may take it into his head to imagine
that I come there in order to be a spy upon his actions."

"I know the unhappy circumstances in which you are placed; yet I think
that we shall be able to overrule them for your good. However
disagreeable your intercourse with such a man must be, it is not prudent
to lose sight of him altogether. While you are in his immediate
neighborhood, he cannot easily forget that he has a son. That artful
designing old scoundrel, Grenard Pike, will do al