friending this youth. I now conclude, dear madam, assuring
you that any danger I incur, or any anxiety I feel, will be
amply repaid if I only know that you think not unworthily of

"William Hemsworth."

Sir Archy studied this letter with the patient care a lawyer bestows
upon a brief. He thought over each sentence, and weighed the expressions
in his mind with deep thought. It had been his fortune, in early life,
to have been thrown into situations of no common difficulty, and his
mind had, in consequence, acquired a habit of shrewd and piercing
investigation, which, though long disused, was not altogether forgotten;
by the aid of this faculty, Hemsworth's letter appeared to him in a
very different light from that in which Kate viewed it. The knowledge of
every circumstance concerning Mark evinced an anxiety which he was very
far from attributing to motives of friendship. Sir Archy well knew the
feelings of dislike which subsisted between these two men--how then
account for this sudden change on Hemsworth's part?--to what attribute
this wonderful interest concerning him?

"Let us see," said the old man to himself, "let us see the fruit, and
then we may pronounce upon the tree. Where and to what does Hemsworth's
benevolence point, dishonour or banishment? Such are the terms he
offers; such are the alternatives his kindness suggests. Might these
have no other motive than friendship?--might they not he the offspring
of feelings very different indeed? What benefit might he derive from
Mark's expatriation--that is the question? Does he anticipate easier
terms with the old man for the little remnant of property that still
pertains to him--or is it merely the leaven of the old hate that still
rises in his nature?--or"----and here his eye flashed with brilliancy
as a new thought crossed his brain----"or does he suspect Mark of
occupying a place in his cousin's affection, and is rivalry the source
of this mysterious good nature?"

This suspicion no sooner occurred to him than Sir Archy recalled to mind
all the circumstances of Hemsworth's recent behaviour--the endeavours he
had made to recommend himself to their favourable notice--all his
acts to ingratiate himself with Kate--the ample views he affected in
politics--the wide-spread generosity of his plans for the amelioration
of the people. That his conduct was unreal, that his principles were but
assumed for the occasion, the shrewd Scotchman had long suspect