is in my mind." So the brothers had a cozy meal together, and then
Amos told Walter about his interview with their sister, and having taken
him fully into his confidence, discussed with him what was best to be
done under the sad circumstances.

"If I could only get hold of that rascally scamp!" said Walter, with an
inclination of his head which implied that nothing would give him more
intense satisfaction.

"I am afraid," said his brother, "that would not help us much: the thing
that would do us all good is not to get hold of him, but to get rid of
him. Unfortunately, however, he knows the hold he has upon us through
poor Julia, and I fear that he will leave no stone unturned to
accomplish his own objects through her directly or indirectly."

"And can't we set the police on him?"

"I daresay we could, Walter; but what a disgrace it would be to have him
exposed and brought to justice!"

"Ah, I see that. Well, Amos, we must see if we cannot frighten him away
for good and all."

His brother shook his head. "He knows very well, you may be sure," he
said, "that for Julia's sake and our own we shall not drag him out into
the light, with all his sins and misdemeanours, for the public to gaze
at, if we can help it; and yet I think he may perhaps be induced to
retire of his own accord and settle abroad, if he finds that we are both
of us determined to keep him in view. Suppose, then, we go together to
poor Julia's to-morrow. Oh, how delighted she will be to see you once
again! And we can get her to make her husband understand that we are
both of us keeping our eyes open about him, and that unless he takes
himself off at once, and gives up his poor abused wife into our keeping,
and leaves her there, we shall bring him to justice, let the disgrace be
what it may."

"Well, Amos," replied Walter, "I can see no better plan; so if agreeable
to you I will have the happiness of going with you to-morrow to my dear
sister's."

The next morning, accordingly, the two brothers stood at the door of
Julia Vivian's humble dwelling. The landlady answered the bell, and
said that her lodger was still in her bedroom, having passed a very
disturbed night, but that, if they would come in, she would soon come
down to them. In a few minutes the parlour door slowly opened, and
Julia, deadly pale, a wild light in her eyes, and her hands trembling
with excitement, made her appearance. She advanced with hesitating
steps towards Amos, b