iless orphan of good family, who visited this house some years
since in the capacity of companion to our great-aunt.

"During that visit I became enamoured with her, and we were secretly
engaged in marriage. It was before the death of my father, and I was not
my own master; but I loved her truly, and meant well by her, only
desiring her to wait till I should be free to please myself. But Richard
stepped in between me and my happiness. He stole this girl's heart from
me; gained her love as he has endeavored to obtain yours, by flattery
and dissimulation you see I am not wily and smooth enough to please
women--but also he destroyed her peace under promise of marriage; leaving
her soon after and going abroad without acquainting her with his purpose.

"I was temporarily from home when this occurred. On returning in the
course of a month, Richard fled, as I have stated; but I was ignorant
then of the cause, and it was not till in the agony of shame she came to
me for help with her secret, that I became aware of his perfidy.

"I need not tell you that I gave her all the aid in my power; her child
Herbert was born and secretly cared for. When he was about two years old,
the great-aunt of whom I have spoken died, leaving a large proportion of
her property to Alice, of whose misfortune she had never dreamed.

"Wealth came to the unfortunate girl too late. The shock she had received
from Richard's deceit had preyed upon her health, and she was failing
rapidly, when he, hearing of her good fortune, returned home.

"With his specious address he might have regained his old ascendancy over
her had I not interfered. You know well, Agnes, his peculiar gift of
fascination. I believe he could by some unexplainable psychological
process make any great wrong appear right to a woman. But I induced her
to bequeath her wealth to Herbert, and secure it, for a time at least,
beyond Richard's control--and he owes me a grudge for it.

"Herbert, she left under my care, unless, of his own free will, he chose
to reside with Richard, who in that case was to become his guardian; and
in the event of Herbert's death before reaching his majority, the whole
property was to revert to Richard Bristed. You see she loved him still.
Unjust but womanlike, her love was stronger than her judgment.

"Well," said he, after eyeing me thoughtfully, "you listen as if you did
not rightly comprehend what I have been saying!"

I was indeed stunned by his communicat