“Out of consideration for you, then, he did not answer her letter, and this has been the result of it.  But we have no wish to deprive him of his property; and the only end we aim at is to prove that he is not Miss Melville’s cousin.  Alice tells me they love each other; but their marriage is forbidden by the will, unless at the sacrifice of the property, which in that case goes to some benevolent societies.”

“Ah,” said Phillips, thoughtfully, “in that case, if I thought Mrs. Phillips’s evidence could establish it, it would perhaps be right to give it; but it cannot—­I see it cannot.  Mere vague hints, half recollected now that the subject has been brought prominently forward, though they may convince you and me, could not stand before a court of law.  I think when you hear what Mrs. Phillips has to say you will confess that it would be wrong to put her and me to such distress, for so little good purpose.  I am sure Miss Melville would be the first to dissuade you from such a course.  It is for the sake of our children that I am so anxious to conceal the connection.  I can trust to you and to Alice, I hope, never to mention it.”

Brandon felt the justice of Mr. Phillips’s reasoning, and yet was very sorry that he could not gratify his promised wife by anything satisfactory in the way of collateral evidence.

“Now, Elsie,” said Brandon, who now took the privilege of love, and called her by her pet name, “what do you mean to do with this information?  I think it quite useless for the end you wish to gain.  Is it worth while to disturb Hogarth’s mind, to lead him to make fruitless inquiries, to wear himself out in attempting to prove what I fear cannot be proved, to make him feel that he has robbed you with even less semblance of justice than before?  Can you not leave him to his own life, which will be a useful and a distinguished one?  Let us keep this vexatious confession, at least till you consult Jane.”

“No, no; I think as we have done everything without consulting Jane, we will make up our minds on this matter too for ourselves.  I know Jane will say with you that we should not communicate the news to Francis; for anything that appears to sacrifice herself and to save other people is what she thinks she ought to do.”

“I don’t think she can be very fond of Hogarth, after all.”

“But she is,” said Elsie, “in her own quiet, deep way.  She could give her own life for his; but she could not feel that she was worth the sacrifice he offered to make.”

“I feel I could throw up everything for you, Elsie,” said Brandon.

“But I should not like to see you do it, so I am very glad you have not got it to do.  Poor Francis!”

“Well, I suppose he will marry some one else, and she will do the same, and they will always be very excellent friends,” said Brandon.

“But then the wrong is to the somebody else,” said Elsie.  “It seems quite wicked to think of such a thing.  Can they not keep single for a purpose, as Peggy Walker did?  Francis may immerse himself in politics to his heart’s content; and Jane, she will be very happy in my happiness.  You must love her; you must not be jealous of her.  She has been everything in the world to me—­my sister, my mother, my friend; and if she cannot have a home of her own, let her always be welcome to ours.”