d, as you will soon hear, your
brother's plans are all changed--we are going to live in London."

"To live in London?"

"He has given up his appointment at Montreal. We have taken a house, or
shall take it to-day, and settle here. He intends entering at the bar,
or something of the sort; but you must persuade him not. What is the use
of his toiling, when I--that is we--are so rich?"

While Agatha thus talked, chiefly to amuse her brother-in-law and make
him feel that she was really his sister, one and the same in family
interests--while she talked, she was astonished to see Major Harper's
face overspread with blank dismay.

"And--Nathanael has really given up his appointment?"

"He has, and for my sake. Was it not good of him?"

"It was madness! Nay--it is I that have been the madman--it is I that
have done it all Agatha, forgive me! But no--you never can!"

As they stood together by the fireplace he snatched her hand, gazing
down upon her with unutterable remorse.

"Poor Bowen's daughter that he trusted to me! Such a mere child too! Oh,
forgive me, Agatha!"

She thought some extraordinary delusion had come upon him--perhaps the
forerunner of some dreadful illness. She tried to take her hand away,
though kindly, for she firmly believed him to be delirious. Nothing
could really have happened to herself that Mr. Harper did not know. With
him to take care of her, she was quite safe. And in that moment--for all
passed in a moment--Nathanael's wife first felt how implicitly she was
beginning to put her trust in him.

While she remained thus--her hand still closed tightly in her
brother-in-law's grasp, half terrified, yet trying not to show her
terror--the door opened, and her husband entered.

At first Mr. Harper seemed petrified with amazement; then he turned
deadly white. Crossing the room, he laid a heavy hand on his brother's
shoulder:

"Frederick, you forget yourself; this is my wife,--Agatha!"

The searching agony of that one word, as he turned and looked her full
in the face, was unutterable. She scarcely perceived it.

"Oh, I am so glad you are come," was all she said. He drew her to his
side--indeed, she had sprung there of her own accord--and wrapped his
arms tightly round her, as if to show that she was his possession, his
own property.

"Now, brother, whatever you wished to say to my wife, say it to us
both."

Major Harper could not speak.

"He was waiting to see you; he is ill--very ill, I