ame or my kindred?"

"No, but to claim your estate and fortune," said Talbot, hurriedly.
"Do you not perceive the date of this document--1774--and that you only
attained your majority on last Christmas day----"

"That cannot be," interrupted Mark. "I joined my father in a loan upon
the estate two years ago; the sale to Hemsworth was made at the same
time, and I must have been of age to do so."

"That does not follow," said Talbot, smiling. "It suited the objects of
others to make you think so; but you were little more than nineteen at
the time. Here's the certificate of your mother's marriage, and the date
is February, 1773."

Mark's countenance became perfectly bloodless, his lips grew livid,
while his nostrils were alternately distended and contracted violently,
as he breathed with a heaving effort.

"You have your choice, therefore," said Talbot, flippantly, "to believe
your father, a man of honour, or your mother----"

"Stop," cried Mark, as he seized his arm and shook it in his strong
grasp; "speak the word, and, by Heaven, you'll never leave this spot
alive."

Talbot seemed to feel no anger at this savage threat, but calmly said--

"It was not my wish to hurt your feelings, Mark. Very little reflection
on your part might convince you, that I can have no object to serve
here, save my regard for you. You seemed to doubt what I said about your
age, and I wished to satisfy you at once that I was correct. You were
not of age till last December. A false certificate of birth and baptism
enabled your father to raise a considerable sum of money with your
concurrence, and also permitted him to make a sale to Hemsworth of
a property strictly entailed on you and yours. Both these acts were
illegal and unjust. If Hemsworth be the rightful owner of that estate
your birth is illegitimate--nay, nay--I am but putting the alternative,
which you cannot, dare not accept. You must hear me with temper,
Mark--calmly and patiently. It is a sad lesson when one must learn to
think disparagingly of those they have ever looked up to and revered.
But remember, that when your father did this act, he was surrounded
with difficulties on every hand. There seemed no escape from the dangers
around him; inevitable ruin was his lot: he doubtless intended to apply
a considerable portion of this money to the repair of his shattered
fortunes--of his affection for you there can be no question----"

"There, there," said Mark, interrupting him ru