udgment
on your head. Begone, sir, and leave the house!"

The pallor of detected guilt, the consciousness that in this iniquitous
lecture he had overshot the mark, and made a grievous miscalculation in
pushing his detestable argument too far--but, above all, the startling
suspicions so boldly and energetically expressed by Lucy, the truth of
which, as well as the apprehensions that filled him of their discovery,
all united, made him feel as if he stood on the brink of a mine to which
the train had been already applied. And yet, notwithstanding all this,
such was the natural force of his effrontery--such the vulgar insolence
and bitter disposition of his nature, that, instead of soothing her
insulted feelings, or offering either explanation or apology, he could
not restrain an impudent exhibition of ill-temper.

"You forget yourself, Lucy," he replied; "you have no authority to
order me out of this house, in which I stand much firmer than yourself.
Neither do I comprehend your allusions, nor regard your threats. The
proofs of my identity and legitimacy are abundant and irresistible. As
to the advice I gave you, I gave it like one who knows the world--"

"No, sir," she replied, indignantly; "you gave it like a man who knows
only its vices. It is sickening to hear every profligate quote his own
experience of life, as if it were composed of nothing but crimes and
vices, simply because they constitute the guilty phase of it with
which he is acquainted. But the world, sir, is not the scene of general
depravity which these persons would present it. No: it is full of great
virtues, noble actions, high principles; and, what is better still, of
true religion and elevated humanity. What right, then, sir, have you to
libel a world which you do not understand? You are merely a portion of
its dregs, and I would as soon receive lessons in honesty from a
thief as principles for my guidance in it from you. As for me, I shall
disregard the proofs of your identity and legitimacy, which, however,
must be produced and investigated; for, from this moment, establish
them as you may, I shall never recognize you as a brother, as an
acquaintance, as a man, nor as anything but a selfish and abandoned
villain, who would have corrupted the principles of his sister."

Without another word, or the slightest token of respect or courtesy,
she deliberately, and with an air of indignant scorn, walked out of the
drawing-room, leaving Mr. Ambrose Gray i