, as a
last surviving son to some anxious father--I, from whom he was reft and
robbed--I ask you again for Sidney--for my brother!"

"And again, I say, that I have no information to give you--that--Stay
a moment-stay. You must pardon what I have said of you before you made
yourself known. I went but by the accounts I had received from Mr.
Beaufort. Let me speak plainly; that gentleman thought, right or wrong,
that it would be a great thing to separate your brother from you. He may
have found him--it must be so--and kept his name and condition concealed
from us all, lest you should detect it. Mrs. M., don't you think so?"

"I'm sure I'm so terrified I don't know what to think," said Mrs.
Morton, putting her hand to her forehead, and see-sawing herself to and
fro upon her stool.

"But since they wronged you--since you--you seem so very--very--"

"Very much the gentleman," suggested Miss Margaret. "Yes, so much the
gentleman;--well off, too, I should hope, sir,"--and the experienced
eye of Mr. Morton glanced at the costly sables that lined the
pelisse,--"there can be no difficulty in your learning from Mr. Beaufort
all that you wish to know. And pray, sir, may I ask, did you send any
one here to-day to make the very inquiry you have made?"

"I?--No. What do you mean?"

"Well, well--sit down--there may be something in all this that you may
make out better than I can."

And as Philip obeyed, Mr. Morton, who was really and honestly rejoiced
to see his sister's son alive and apparently thriving, proceeded to
relate pretty exactly the conversation he had held with the previous
visitor. Philip listened earnestly and with attention. Who could this
questioner be? Some one who knew his birth--some one who sought him
out?--some one, who--Good Heavens! could it be the long-lost witness of
the marriage?

As soon as that idea struck him, he started from his seat and entreated
Morton to accompany him in search of the stranger. "You know not," he
said, in a tone impressed with that energy of will in which lay the
talent of his mind,--"you know not of what importance this may be to
my prospects--to your sister's fair name. If it should be the witness
returned at last! Who else, of the rank you describe, would be
interested in such inquiries? Come!"

"What witness?" said Mrs. Morton, fretfully. "You don't mean to come
over us with the old story of the marriage?"

"Shall your wife slander your own sister, sir? A marriage there w