rother James, this is a fraud, to which Lina's face alone
is enough to give the lie! Ask Ben Benson--only ask Ben, he is truthful
as the sun; he has known her from the cradle. Ben Benson told me with
his own lips, that Lina's mother was dead!"

James Harrington became excited; his eye kindled.

"Did Ben Benson tell you this?"

"He did, indeed; but why waste time in guessing? Let us go home; the old
fellow will help us to put this right."

James hesitated, and shrunk within himself; the look of pain came back
to his face, and he answered with some constraint, that the steamer
sailed for Europe on the morrow, and his passage was already taken.

Ralph looked astonished and distressed.

"Would you leave us now?" he said, reproachfully.

James remained thoughtful a moment, and then answered with a touch of
mournfulness:

"No, I will remain for a little time. So long as I am wanted, it must be
so."

"Then, let us go home at once."

"Yes, it is a duty; I will return with you," said Harrington, with
gentle concession; and, spite of himself, a gleam of pleasure broke into
his eyes.

"Come, then, come!" cried Ralph, impetuously. "I cannot breathe till old
Ben has spoken. Come!"

"Have patience, Ralph; let us talk this matter over more quietly. We are
not at liberty to tell this painful secret to your mother, it would
shock her too much; besides, I pledged my honor to the poor child that
it should not be done. Let me find General Harrington, and learn the
whole truth from him. If Lina proves to be your sister--do not turn so
pale, my dear boy--if she proves to be this, you must go with me to
Europe, and learn to regard her with that gentle affection which becomes
these new relations."

"I tell you, Lina is _not_ my sister; every feeling of my soul rises up
to contradict it!" cried the youth, impetuously. "General Harrington
will not say it."

"Is the General at home now?" inquired Harrington, with a gentle wave of
the hand.

"No; he seldom is, of late. He almost lives at the club-house."

"I will seek him there," said Harrington; "come with me."

"Not on this errand, James; I could not see my father, and maintain that
self-control which is due from a son to his parent. His sins have fallen
too heavily on me for that."

"You are right, perhaps," answered James, thoughtfully. "It will be a
painful interview; but for her sake I will undertake it, though I had
thought all subjects of this kind were at an end be