was such that Mr. Carvel
never showed it to my mother, and would have destroyed it had he not
felt that some day it might aid in solving the mystery. So he kept it in
his strongbox, where he thought it safe from prying eyes. But my Uncle
Grafton, ever a deceitful lad, at length discovered the key and read the
paper, and afterwards used the knowledge he thus obtained as a reproach
and a taunt against my mother. I cannot even now write his name without
repulsion.

This new member of the household was renamed Elizabeth Carvel, though
they called her Bess, and of a course she was greatly petted and
spoiled, and ruled all those about her. As she grew from childhood to
womanhood her beauty became talked about, and afterwards, when Mistress
Carvel went to the Assembly, a dozen young sparks would crowd about the
door of her coach, and older and more serious men lost their heads on
her account.

Her devotion to Mr. Carvel was such, however, that she seemed to care
but little for the attention she received, and she continued to grace
his board and entertain his company. He fairly worshipped her. It was
his delight to surprise her with presents from England, with rich silks
and brocades for gowns, for he loved to see her bravely dressed. The
spinet he gave her, inlaid with ivory, we have still. And he caused a
chariot to be made for her in London, and she had her own horses and her
groom in the Carvel livery.

People said it was but natural that she should fall in love with Captain
Jack, my father. He was the soldier of the family, tall and straight and
dashing. He differed from his younger brother Grafton as day from
night. Captain Jack was open and generous, though a little given to rash
enterprise and madcap adventure. He loved my mother from a child. His
friend Captain Clapsaddle loved her too, and likewise Grafton, but it
soon became evident that she would marry Captain Jack or nobody. He was
my grandfather's favourite, and though Mr. Carvel had wished him more
serious, his joy when Bess blushingly told him the news was a pleasure
to see. And Grafton turned to revenge; he went to Mr. Carvel with the
paper he had taken from the strong-box and claimed that my mother was of
spurious birth and not fit to marry a Carvel. He afterwards spread the
story secretly among the friends of the family. By good fortune little
harm arose therefrom, since all who knew my mother loved her, and were
willing to give her credit for the doubt; m