nt of
my more than father."

"You feel sure to win that consent, in spite of the stain on her
grandfather's name?"

"When Darrell learns that, but for my poor father's fault, that name
might be spotless now!--yes! I am not Mr. Darrell's son--the transmitter
of his line. I believe yet that he will form new ties. By my mother's
side I have no ancestors to boast of; and you have owned to me that
Sophy's mother was of gentle birth. Alban Morley told me, when I last
saw him, that Darrell wishes me to marry, and leaves me free to choose
my bride. Yes; I have no doubt of Mr. Darrell's consent. My dear mother
will welcome to her heart the prize so coveted by mine; and Charles
Haughton's son will have a place at his hearth for the old age of
William Losely. Withdraw your interdict at once, dearest Lady Montfort,
and confide to me all that you have hitherto left unexplained, but have
promised to reveal when the time came. The time has come."

"It has come," said Lady Montfort, solemnly; "and Heaven grant that it
may bear the blessed results which were in my thoughts when I took Sophy
as my own adopted daughter, and hailed in yourself the reconciler of
conflicting circumstance. Not under this roof should you woo William
Losely's grandchild. Doubly are you bound to ask Guy Darrell's consent
and blessing. At his hearth woo your Sophy--at his hands ask a bride in
his daughter's child."

And to her wondering listener, Caroline Montford told her grounds for
the belief that connected the last of the Darrells with the convict's
grandchild.

CHAPTER VI.

CREDULOUS CRYSTAL-SEERS, YOUNG LOVERS, AND GRAVE WISE MEN--ALL IN
THE SAME CATEGORY.

George Morley set out the next day for Norwich, in which antique city,
ever since the 'Dane peopled it, some wizard or witch, star-reader, or
crystal-seer' has enjoyed a mysterious renown, perpetuating thus through
all change in our land's social progress the long line of Vala and
Saga, who came with the Raven and Valkyr from Scandinavian pine shores.
Merle's reserve vanished on the perusal of Sophy's letter to him. He
informed George that Waife declared he had plenty of money, and had even
forced a loan upon Merle; but that he liked an active, wandering life;
it kept him from thinking, and that a pedlar's pack would give him a
license for vagrancy, and a budget to defray its expenses; that Merle
had been consulted by him in the choice of light popular wares, and as
to the route he