“Harry,” said Lindsay, holding out his hand, “you are not the son of my blood, but I declare to heaven I love you as well as if you were.  Your conduct is noble and generous; ay, and as a natural consequence, disinterested; there is no base and selfish principle in you, my dear boy; and I honor and love you as if I were your father in reality.”

“Harry,” said Maria, kissing him, “I repeat and feel all that dear papa has said.”

“And so do I,” exclaimed Charles, “and if I ever entertained any other feeling, I fling it to the winds.”

“You all overrate me,” said Harry; “but, perhaps, if you were aware of my private remonstrances with my mother upon her unfortunate principles and temper, you would give me more credit even than you do.  My object is to produce peace and harmony between you, and if I can succeed in that I shall feel satisfied, let my mother’s property go where it may.  Of course, you must now be aware that I separate myself from her and her projects, and identify myself, as I said, with you all.  Still, there is one request I have to make of you, father, my dear father, for well I may call you so; and it is that you will not, as an independent man and a gentleman, attempt to urge this marriage, on which you seem to have set your heart, between Charles and Goodwin’s daughter.  You are not aware of what I know upon this subject.  She and Ferdora O’Connor are about to be married; but I will not mention what I could mention until after that ceremony shall have taken place.”

“Well,” said his sister, “you appear to speak very sincerely, Harry, but I know and feel that there is some mistake somewhere.”

“Harry,” said Lindsay, “from what has occurred this morning, I shall be guided by you.  I will not press this marriage, neither shall I stoop to seek an explanation.”

“Thank you, sir,” replied Harry.  “I advise you as I do because I would not wish to see our whole family insulted in your person.”

Maria and her brother Charles looked at each other, and seemed to labor under a strange and somewhat mysterious feeling.  The confidence, however, with which Harry spoke evidently depressed them, and, as they entertained not the slightest suspicion of his treachery, they left the apartment each with a heavy heart.

Harry, from this time forward, associated more with his brother than he had done, and seemed to take him more into his confidence.  He asked him out in all his sporting expeditions; and proposed that they should each procure a shooting dress of the same color and materials, which was accordingly done; and so strongly did they resemble each other, when dressed in them, that in an uncertain light, or at a distance, it was nearly impossible to distinguish the one from the other.  In fact, the brothers were now inseparable, Harry’s object being to keep Charles as much under his eye and control as possible, from an apprehension that, on cool reflection, he might take it into his head to satisfy himself by a personal interview with Alice Goodwin as to the incomprehensible change which had estranged her affection from him.