certainly appreciated the magnanimity and disinterestedness of his son in ceasing to urge his claims after she had become possessed of such a fortune; and it struck him that something must have been wrong, or some evil agency at work, which prevented the Goodwins from reestablishing their former intimacy with Charles whilst they seemed to court that of his brother.  Here was something strange, and he could not understand it.  One. morning, when they were all seated at breakfast, he spoke as follows:—­

“I can’t,” he said, “comprehend the conduct of the Goodwins.  Their daughter, if we are to judge from appearances, has discarded her accepted lover, poor Charles, here.  Now, this doesn’t look well.  There seems to be something capricious, perhaps selfish, in it.  Still, knowing the goodness of their hearts, as I do, I cannot but feel that there is something like a mystery in it.  I had set my heart upon a marriage between Charles and Alice before ever she came into the property bequeathed to her.  In this I was not selfish certainly.  I looked only to their happiness.  Yes, and my mind is still set upon this marriage, and it shall go hard with me or I will accomplish it.”

“Father,” said Charles, “if you regard or respect me, I entreat of you to abandon any such project.  Ferdora O’Connor is now the favorite there.  He is rich and I am poor; no, the only favor I ask is that you will never more allude to the subject in my hearing.”

“But I will allude to it, and I will demand an explanation besides,” replied Lindsay.

“Father,” observed Harry, “I trust that no member of this family is capable of an act of unparalleled meanness.  I, myself, pleaded my brother’s cause with that heartless and deceitful girl in language which could not be mistaken.  And what was the consequence?  Because I ventured to do so I have been forbidden to visit there again.  They told me, without either preface or apology, that they will have no further intercourse with our family.  Ferdora O’Connor is the chosen man.”

“It is false,” said his sister, her eyes sparkling with indignation as she spoke; “it is abominably false; and, father, you are right; seek an explanation from the Goodwins.  I feel certain that there are evil spirits at work.”

“I shall, my dear girl,” replied her father; “it is only an act of justice to them.  And if the matter be at all practicable, I shall have Charles and her married still.”

“Why not think of Harry?” said his wife; “as the person originally destined to receive the property, he has the strongest claim.”

“You are talking now in the selfish and accursed principles of the world,” replied Lindsay.  “Charles has the claim of her early affection, and I shall urge it.”

“Very well,” said his wife; “if you succeed in bringing about a marriage between her and Charles, I will punish both you and him severely.”

“As how, madam?” asked her husband.