CHAPTER XIII.

"The wicked are like the troubled sea,

When it cannot rest,

Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

ISAIAII

As he went home, Romsdale felt much disappointed at the failure of his attack on Mr. Maclandreth's character. He was not, however, by any means hopeless. His evil genius was never at a loss, when one mode of assault failed, to bring out another. His mind was most prolific as regards plots, the horrid issues of its nefarious working. He was too accustomed to see his plans frustrated, to feel inclined to relinquish his present design on account of the unfriendly impression which his first attempt seemed to have produced on Mr. Acehambur's mind. His aim, from the moment Maclandreth left, had been to supplant him in the old man's estimation; and he had done much in removing the obstacles that lay

in his way. Mr. Acehambur was in the habit of having his letters conveyed from town in Mr. Williams's letter-bag. This gentleman, the reader should bear in mind, was Romsdale's master. As his clerk, therefore, it was Romsdale's province to keep the key of the letter-bag, and to see that all was rightly managed. Knowing this, Mr. Maclandreth had given him strict orders that he should convey all his letters to Mr. Acehambur and Miss Alison with his own hand. He had also desired him to keep up a regular correspondence with him, informing him of everything respecting his friends, and especially the manner in which poor Alison would bear his absence. All this Romsdale had faithfully promised to do. The first letter, however, that came from Mr. Maclandreth to Miss Alison, together with a small parcel addressed to the old gentleman, he opened, and then, with a grin of diabolical satisfaction, locked up in his own box. In the meanwhile, he wrote to Maclandreth, that Miss Alison had already forgotten him, and was constantly flirting about with a Mr. R, a wealthy young gentleman in the neighbour

hood, whom he knew Mr. Maclandreth had for some time suspected of being in love with her, and that the old gentleman had promised him her hand. "Indeed," said he, "it appears to me-though I am sorry to wound your feelings by giving expression to my suspicions—that they, both father and daughter, were heartily tired of you, and were most glad to get rid of such a heartless fortune-hunter as they are now pleased to call you. I can assure you, my dearest Ambrose, that all the ins and outs of Fair-View since you left, are like so many daggers to me, and nothing but my faithfulness and gratitude to you for all your past kindness, could induce me to go there at all. They literally idolize young Mr. R——, and to see the figure that the young puppy cuts where your noble and manly form ought to appear—and as for Alison, she is actually mad for him. I can never think her the same modest retiring-looking creature as she appeared in your society. But you know that this verifies what I have ever thought of woman, that they are 'fair as the moon, and as change

able too.' live in!

Oh, what a world of hypocrisy we

"The other night (wishing to introduce your name, to see what impression it would produce) I asked her whether you had taken all your luggage with you ?"

"Luggage!" she exclaimed, convulsed with laughter, a pair of shirts and a suit of clothes, given him by my poor father.""

"I could contain myself no longer, and lest I should tear her to pieces, I abruptly left the house, and have not entered it since; nor do I think they are sorry for it. Anything that reminds them of you they do not much care for, and on this score they treat me now with the greatest coolness. The contemptible puppy, I am told, has been trying to persuade Alison that I am not respectable enough to be made, as it were, an equal of Oh! it doth amaze me to see Mammon everywhere idolized, while talents and goodness are everywhere neglected. Yesterday, I went on purpose to see the old gentleman, and spoke as much as I could in your favour. Having told him of your excel

lent character and the respectable standing of your family, I made bold to tell him that your fortune would now exceed that of young Mr. R--."

"He looked undecided. He then said, after a moment's pause :—

"Do you think, Mr. Romsdale, that all you say is true?'

"True! exclaimed I, utterly amazed that he could doubt, for a moment, what you had told him,' true! Certainly-as true as I am standing here. Did he not tell you of it before he left?' continued I.

"Well,' he said, 'yes, he told me so; but you see, Mr. Romsdale, I have no proof of it.' "Proof!' said I, wild with indignation, 'proof! and is his own word not a sufficient proof, and mine a sufficient corroboration of it? It is evident,' I said to him, 'that you do not yet know my noble and generous friend, or you could never suspect him, or prefer any other before him as your future son-in-law. His word, I can assure you, Mr. Acehambur, is as good as a bond, any day. He is integrity personified. Goodness,' I exclaimed, vehe