--. He was
not destitute of parts, and was no less dreaded for cunning than
malignity. He was covetous, and never missed an opportunity of
overreaching his neighbour. There was no doubt that his niece's property
would be embezzled should it ever come into his hands, and any power
which he might obtain over her person would be exercised to her
destruction. His children were tainted with the dissoluteness of their
father, and marriage had not repaired the reputation of his daughters,
or cured them of depravity: this was the man whom I now proposed to
visit.

I scarcely need to say that the calumny of Betty Lawrence gave me no
uneasiness. My father had no doubt been deceived, as well as my father's
neighbours, by the artifices of this woman. I passed among them for a
thief and a profligate, but their error had hitherto been harmless to
me. The time might come which should confute the tale without my
efforts. Betty, sooner or later, would drop her mask, and afford the
antidote to her own poisons, unless some new incident should occur to
make me hasten the catastrophe.

I arrived at Hadwin's house. I was received with some attention as a
guest. I looked, among the pimpled visages that filled the piazza, for
that of the landlord, but found him in an inner apartment with two or
three more seated round a table. On intimating my wish to speak with him
alone, the others withdrew.

Hadwin's visage had some traces of resemblance to his brother; but the
meek, placid air, pale cheeks, and slender form of the latter were
powerfully contrasted with the bloated arrogance, imperious brow, and
robust limbs of the former. This man's rage was awakened by a straw; it
impelled him in an instant to oaths and buffetings, and made his life an
eternal brawl. The sooner my interview with such a personage should be
at an end, the better. I therefore explained the purpose of my coming as
fully and in as few words as possible.

"Your name, sir, is Philip Hadwin. Your brother William, of Malverton,
died lately and left two daughters. The youngest only is now alive, and
I come, commissioned from her, to inform you that, as no will of her
father's is extant, she is preparing to administer to his estate. As her
father's brother, she thought you entitled to this information."

The change which took place in the countenance of this man, during this
address, was remarkable, but not easily described. His cheeks contracted
a deeper crimson, his eyes spa