rge Caresfoot. Only wait till you are in my power, and you shall
learn that I was never yet defied with impunity. Oh, and you shall
learn many other things also."

From that time forward, Angela was, for a period of two months or
more, subjected to an organized persecution as harassing as it was
cruel. George waylaid her everywhere, and twice actually succeeded in
entering into conversation with her, but on both occasions she managed
to escape from him before he could proceed any further. So
persistently did he hunt her, that at last the wretched girl was
driven to hide herself away in odd corners of the house and woods, in
order to keep out of his way. Then he took to writing her letters, and
sending handsome presents, all of which she returned.

Poor Angela! It was hard both to lose her lover, and to suffer daily
from the persecutions of her hateful cousin, which were now pushed
forward so openly and with such pertinacity as to fill her with vague
alarm. What made her position worse was, that she had no one in whom
to confide, for Mr. Fraser had not yet returned. Pigott indeed knew
more or less what was going on, but she could do nothing, except
bewail Arthur's absence, and tell her "not to mind." There remained
her father, but with him she had never been on sufficiently intimate
terms for confidence. Indeed, as time went on, the suspicion gathered
strength in her mind that he was privy to George's advances, and that
those advances had something to do with the harsh terms imposed upon
Arthur and herself. But at last matters grew so bad that, having no
other refuge, she determined to appeal to him for protection.

"Father," she said, boldly, one day to Philip, as he was sitting
writing in his study, "my cousin George is persecuting me every day. I
have borne it as long as I can, but I can bear it no longer. I have
come to ask you to protect me from him."

"Why, Angela, I should have thought that you were perfectly capable of
protecting yourself. What is he persecuting you about? What does he
want?"

"To marry me, I suppose," answered Angela, blushing to her eyes.

"Well, that is a very complimentary wish on his part, and I can tell
you what it is, Angela, if only you could get that young Heigham out
of your head, you might do a deal worse."

"It is quite useless to talk to me like that," she answered, coldly.

"Well, that is your affair; but it is very ridiculous of you to come
and ask me to protect you. The w