to do that as
soon as possible."

"I never thought of anything worse," said I, "than that knowing, as he
is likely to do, that Hatty will some day have a few hundreds a year of
her own, he is trying to inveigle her to marry him, and is not a man
likely to be kind to her and make her happy."

"He is certainly likely to make her very unhappy," replied Ephraim.
"But I do not believe that he has any intentions of marriage, towards
Hatty or anybody else."

"But don't you think he may make her think so? Amelia told me he was
engaged in marriage with a gentlewoman she knows."

"I am sorry for the gentlewoman. Make her think so? Yes, and under
cover of that, work out his plot. I would advise Miss Bracewell to
beware that she is not made a catspaw."

I told Ephraim what I had said to Amelia.

"Then she is put on her guard: so far, well."

"Ephraim, have you heard anything more of Angus?"

"Nothing but what you know already."

"Nor, I suppose, of Colonel Keith? I wish I knew what he is doing."

"He has not had much chance of doing anything yet," said Ephraim, rather
drily. "A sick-bed is not the most favourable place for helping one's
friends out of prison."

"Has Colonel Keith been ill?" cried I.

"Mr Raymond did not tell you?"

"He never told me a word. I do not know what he may have said to
Annas."

"A broken arm, and a fever on the top of it," said Ephraim. "The doctor
talks of letting him go out to-morrow, if the weather suit."

"O Ephraim!" cried I. "But where is he?"

"Don't tell any one, if I tell you. Remember, Colonel Keith is a
proscribed man."

"I will do no harm to Annas's brother, trust me!" said I.

"He is at Raymond's house, where he and I have been nursing him."

"In a fever!"

"Oh, it is not a catching fever. Think you either of us would have come
here if it were?"

"Ephraim, is Mr Raymond to be trusted?" said I. "I am sure he is a
good man, but he is a shocking Whig. And I do believe one of the
queerest things in this queer world is the odd notions that men take of
what it is their duty to do."

"Have you found that out?" said he, looking much diverted.

"I am always finding things out," I answered. "I had no idea there was
so much to be found. But, don't you see, Mr Raymond might fancy it his
duty to betray Colonel Keith? Is there no danger?"

"Not the slightest," said Ephraim, warmly. "Mr Raymond would be much
more likely to give up his own life. Don't you kno