n as supper was served.

She came back when the meal was over to clear away, and behind the
gentleman's back made signs to Angel that Godfrey was asleep; and Angel
gently stopped Betty, who seemed inclined to slip out of the room, and
took her own worsted work to a chair by the hearth opposite her cousin.
Mr. Crayshaw had a newspaper, but he sat looking over it at the burning
logs with a decidedly annoyed expression, and when the table was
cleared and Penelope gone, he laid it down and turned to his two young
cousins.

'How old are you, Angelica?' he asked abruptly.

'Nearly seventeen, Cousin Crayshaw,' answered the girl, 'and Betty is
thirteen.'

'But I feel a great deal more than thirteen, Cousin Crayshaw,' said
Betty, leaning over the back of Angelica's chair.

'I am glad to hear it,' said Mr. Crayshaw rather drily; 'I trust at any
rate that you will be able to show some of the discretion which your
peculiar circumstances will require.'

He cleared his throat and began again, while Angel laid down her work
respectfully:

'You are possibly aware that the sudden death of your father, followed
a few days later by that of your mother, left their affairs in much
confusion. The greater part of their fortune went by law to your elder
brother, a moderate sum being devoted to the expenses of your
education. I regret that the investment of the small property accruing
to yourselves has been less successful than could have been wished. As
you probably know, the conduct of your brother has been from first to
last unsatisfactory--most unsatisfactory.'

Betty glanced up sharply. Angel said gently,

'I know he loved my papa and mamma.'

'He showed his affection in an extraordinary manner,' said Mr. Crayshaw
grimly; 'he was idle and extravagant in his early youth, and his career
since then has been far from brilliant, not to speak of this most
unfortunate and imprudent marriage with a penniless orphan girl, which
he had sufficient shame to keep secret from his relations and advisers
in England. When I heard of his death I naturally looked upon you and
your sisters as heirs to the small property which I have managed to the
best of my ability, and which would make a comfortable provision for
you. And now it appears that this child, who was at first believed to
have perished at the same time, has by some extraordinary chance
survived, and of course inherits everything. A most unfortunate
occurrence altogether.'

I