“Take me back to Mrs. Phillips; she will be as glad to get rid of this woman as you can possibly be,” said Elsie.

“But she must have known there was something wrong, for she looked confused and ashamed when I asked for you, and when I settled down to wait till your return, she seemed quite restless till I went away.  Indeed, she sent me on an errand in quite a different direction; but I wished to come this way, and thought there was no hurry about her commission.  I always knew her to be a fool, but not so wicked and false as this proves her to be.”

“I think this woman frightens her,” said Elsie.

“She has some hold on her, no doubt.  Poor Phillips! we had better say nothing to him about it.  So you would really prefer going home to her,” said Brandon.

“Yes, certainly,” said Elsie; and she paused for a little.  “But, Mr. Brandon, I am in want of advice and assistance more than I ever was in my life.  I must have it, and have it immediately.  Can I rely on you as a friend?”

“Yes, as a friend;—­certainly, as a friend,” said Brandon, who wondered what revelation was about to be made.  Surely no love affair with some one else!

“I believe this woman is the person who calls herself my cousin Francis’s mother,” said Elsie.  “I think she came to Mrs. Phillips’s for the express purpose of ingratiating herself with me, in hopes of selling me a secret which she knows, and which she declares will give to Jane and myself the possession of Cross Hall.”

“Ah!” said Brandon, slowly; “and is this her little game at present?”

“Now, I have often thought that Francis was not my uncle’s son—­there is not the slightest family likeness; and she is capable of any fraud or deception.  I really knew she was not good when I went out with her, but we had no chance to speak without interruption in the house, and I did not think she was so well known in Melbourne as she appears to be.  I know I have done very wrong, but I really had some excuse.  If she can prove this-----” and Elsie paused, in hopes that Brandon would say something to show that he felt for the greatness of her temptation.

“But, my dear Miss Alice,” said Brandon, “she cannot take the property from your cousin.  Was it not left to him by will, and left to him because he had proved himself worthy of it?—­at least, I believe that is what your sister and Peggy have told me.  She tries this game of hers with a girl who knows nothing about business.  It is of no use whatever.”

“She has no idea about the will, and thinks that Francis got the estate as heir-at-law.  But my view of the matter is this, that if Francis is proved not to be our cousin, he might marry Jane, and not lose the property.  That is what I aim at, for they love each other, I am quite sure.”

“If they do, I wonder he did not throw up the fortune, and set about earning one for himself.  It was a good deal to give up, too—­a seat in parliament, and such a career as appears before him.  But what are wealth and fame compared to love?” said Brandon, who had got rather into heroics.