all?'

'Father, why should I trifle with your feelings? why should I feign what
can never be? This sharp interview, so long postponed, ought not now to
be adjourned. Indulge no hopes, for there are none.'

'Then by every sacred power I revoke every blessing that since your
birth I have poured upon your head. I recall the prayers that every
night I have invoked upon your being. Great God! I cancel them. You have
betrayed your cousin; you have deserted your mother and myself; you have
first sullied the honour of our house, and now you have destroyed it.
Why were you born? What have we done that your mother's womb should
produce such a curse? Sins of my father, they are visited upon me! And
Glastonbury, what will Glastonbury say? Glastonbury, who sacrificed his
fortune for you.'

'Mr. Glastonbury knows all, sir, and has always been my confidant.'

'Is he a traitor? For when a son deserts me, I know not whom to trust.'

'He has no thoughts but for our welfare, sir. He will convince you, sir,
I cannot marry my cousin.'

'Boy, boy! you know not what you say. Not marry your cousin! Then let us
die. It were better for us all to die.'

'My father! Be calm, I beseech you; you have spoken harsh words; I
have not deserted you or my mother; I never will. If I have wronged my
cousin, I have severely suffered, and she has most freely forgiven me.
She is my dear friend. As for our house: tell me, would you have that
house preserved at the cost of my happiness? You are not the father I
supposed, if such indeed be your wish.'

'Happiness! Fortune, family, beauty, youth, a sweet and charming spirit,
if these will not secure a man's happiness, I know not what might. And
these I wished you to possess.'

'Sir, it is in vain for us to converse upon this subject. See
Glastonbury, if you will. He can at least assure you that neither my
feelings are light nor my conduct hasty. I will leave you now.'

Ferdinand quitted the room; Sir Ratcliffe did not notice his departure,
although he was not unaware of it. He heaved a deep sigh, and was
apparently plunged in profound thought.

CHAPTER XVIII.

_Ferdinand Is Arrested by Messrs. Morris and Levison, and
Taken to a Spunging-House_.

IT MUST be confessed that the affairs of our friends were in a critical
state: everyone interested felt that something decisive in their
respective fortunes was at hand. And, yet, so vain are all human plans
and calculations, that the unavoi