how to
discharge it more fittingly. To be plain, Miss O'Donoghue, the statute
of high treason, which will involve the confiscation of your uncle's
estate, will, if measures be not speedily taken, rob you of your
fortune; to prevent this--

"Stay, sir, I may save you some trouble on my account. I have no
fortune, nor any claim upon my uncle's estate."

"Pardon me, young lady, but the circumstance of my position has made me
acquainted with matters connected with your family; your claim extends
to a very considerable, and a very valuable property."

"Once more, sir, I must interrupt you--I have none."

"If I dare contradict you I would say----"

"Nay, nay, sir," cried she, blushing, partly from shame, and partly from
anger--"this must cease, I know not what right you have to press the
avowal from me. The property you speak of is no longer mine; my uncle
did me the honour to accept it from me, would that the gift could
express the thousandth part of the love I bear him."

"You gave over your claim to your uncle!" said Hemsworth, leaving a
pause between every word of the sentence, while a look of malignant
anger settled on his brow.

"Who dares to question me on such a subject," said Kate, for the
insulting expression so suddenly assumed by Hemsworth, roused all her
indignation.

"Is this, then, really so," said Hemsworth, who, so unaccustomed as he
ever was to be overreached, felt all the poignancy of a deception in his
disappointment.

Kate made no answer, but moved towards the door, while Hemsworth sprang
forward before her, and placed his back against it.

"What means this, or how comes it, that you dare to treat me thus
beneath my uncle's roof?"

"One word only, Miss O'Donoghue," said Hemsworth, with an effort to
assume his habitual tone of deference; "May I ask was this transfer of
property made legally and formally."

"Sir," said Kate, as drawing herself up, she stared full at him, without
another word of reply.

"I see it all," said Hemsworth, rapidly, and as if thinking, aloud.
"This was the money that paid off Hickson--in this way the mortgage
was redeemed, and the bond for two thousand also recovered--duped
and cheated at every step. And so, madam,"--here he turned a look of
insulting menace towards her--"I have been the fool in your hands all
this time; and not content with thwarting my views, you have endeavoured
to sap the source of my fortune. Yes, you need not affect ignorance; I
know of Si