let me speak to you for once, as though I were your friend,"
she would have substituted the word sister, but she feared to provoke
one of his outbursts of indignant pleading.

"You know you may say what you like to me," he returned, moved by the
gentleness of her speech, for she had never been so gracious to him
before. "You have more influence over me than any one else in the
world. If you could make me a better man, Miss Davenport."

"I would give much to do it," she answered, in a low voice that
thrilled him strangely. "Mr. Trafford, will you be angry with me if I
speak to you very frankly, and earnestly--as earnestly," here she
paused, "as though we were bidding each other good-bye, to-night, for
a long time."

"If you will call me Percy," he replied, with sudden vehemence, "you
shall say what you like to me."

"Very well," she answered, with a faint smile at his boyish
insistance, "it shall be Percy then--no, do not interrupt me," as he
seemed about to speak. "I am very troubled and unhappy about Mr.
Erle's visits; they are doing harm to Fern, and I must tell you, once
for all, that you are not doing your duty either to your sister or
cousin."

"Erle again," he muttered, moodily.

"Yes, because the matter lies very close to my heart, for I dearly
love your sister. Mr. Trafford--Percy, I mean--you have youth, health,
talents--the whole world lies before you; why do you envy your cousin,
because he is likely to be a richer man than you?"

"He has robbed me of my rightful inheritance," was the moody answer.

"It could never be yours," she returned, quickly; "a Trafford will
never be Mr. Huntingdon's heir."

"I would change my name."

"That would avail you little," with a touch of her old scorn, for the
speech displeased her. "Mr. Huntingdon would never leave his money to
the son of the man whom he hated, and of the daughter whose
disobedience embittered his life. Mr. Erle has to answer for no sins
but his own."

"He had better be careful though," was the quick response.

"What, have you done him mischief already? Why--why are you not more
generous to the poor boy? Why do you encourage these visits that you
know will anger Mr. Huntingdon? Why do you tempt him from his duty?
Percy, I implore you to be true to yourself and him. Look into your
own heart and see if you are acting an honorable part."

"You are always hard on me," he returned, sullenly. "Who has been
blackening my name to you?"

"No one, n