s bound up with this affair--never mind; I must think--I hate all
underhanded work."

"Major, our charges are strictly moderate. We do in a week what takes
lawyers a twelvemonth. Allow me to hand you one of our new cards."

"No, no. My pockets are all full. And I don't want to have it found
among my papers. No offense, Mr. Goad, no offense at all. Society is
not as it was when I was young. I condemn no modern institutions, Sir,
though the world gets worse every day of its life."

In terror of committing himself to any connection with such a firm, the
Major put on his dark lights again, took up his cane, and let every body
know, with a summary rap on the floor, that he might have relaxed, but
would not allow any further liberty about it. And as he marched away,
not proudly, yet with a very nice firmness, I was almost afraid to say
any thing to him to disturb his high mental attitude. For Mrs. Hockin
must have exclaimed that here was a noble spectacle.

"But one thing," I forced myself to suggest; "do ask one thing before
we go. That strange man who called himself 'Lord Castlewood' here, and
'Captain Brown' at Soberton--have they any idea where to find him now?
And why does he not come forward?"

My comrade turned back, and put these questions; and the private
inquirer answered that they had no idea of his whereabouts, but could
easily imagine many good reasons for his present reserve of claim. For
instance, he might be waiting for discovery of further evidence;
or (which was even more likely) for the death of the present Lord
Castlewood, which could not be very far distant, and would remove the
chief opponent. It grieved me deeply to find that my cousin's condition
was so notorious, and treated of in such a cold-blooded way, like a mule
fallen lame, or a Chinaman in Frisco.

"My dear, you must grow used to such things," Major Hockin declared,
when he saw that I was vexed, after leaving those selfish premises. "If
it were not for death, how could any body live? Right feeling is shown
by considering such points, and making for the demise of others even
more preparation than for our own. Otherwise there is a selfishness
about it by no means Christian-minded. You look at things always from
such an intense and even irreligious point of view. But such things are
out of my line altogether. Your Aunt Mary understands them best."

"Would you be able," I said, "to account to Aunt Mary conscientiously
for that dreadful story