st marriage was on the 15th of April, 1836," he added to
her. He says she quite glared at him with mortification, as if he had
invented poor little Alured on purpose to baffle her; but my father
breathed more freely.

"And is nothing--nothing to be done for my child, your own grandson?"
exclaimed she, "after these years."

Torwood silenced her by one of his looks. "We only wish to do
justice," he said. "If it be as you say, you will have a right to a
great deal, and it will not be disputed; but you must be aware that a
claim made in this manner requires investigation, and you can see that
my father is not in a state for an exciting discussion."

"_Your_ father!" she said, with a bitter tone of scorn; but he took it
firmly, though the blood seemed to come boiling to his temples.

"Yes," he said, "my father! and if you are indeed his daughter, you
should show some pity and filial duty, by not forcing the discussion on
him while he can so little bear it."

That staggered her a little, but she said, "I do not wish to do him any
harm, but I have my child's interests to think of. How do I know what
advantage may be taken against him?"

Torwood saw my father lying back in the chair, trembling, and he
dreaded a fit every moment.

"I give you my word," he said, "that no injustice shall be done you;"
and as she looked keenly at him, as if she distrusted him, he said,
"Yes, you may trust me. I was bred an English gentleman, whatever I
was born, and I promise you never to come between you and your rights,
when your identity as Lord Trevorsham's daughter is fully established.
Meantime, do you not see that your presence is killing him? Tell me
where you may be heard of?"

"I shall stay at the Shinglebay Hotel till I am secure of the justice I
claim," she said. "Come, my boy, since your own grandfather will not
so much as look at you."

Torwood walked her across the hall. He was a little touched by those
last words, and felt that she might have looked for a daughter's
reception, so he said in the hall--

"You must remember this is a very sudden shock to us all. When my
father has grown accustomed to the idea, no doubt he will wish to see
you again; but in his present state of health, he must be our first
consideration. And unprepared as my sisters are, it would be
impossible to ask you to stay in the house."

She was always a little subdued by my brother's manner; I think its
courtesy and polish almost frightene