"They had not been three months married and installed in the home they owed to you, when poor Will was seized with a rheumatic fever. He was confined to his bed for many weeks; and, when at last he could move from it, was so weak as to be still unable to do any work. During his illness Jessie had no heart and little leisure to attend to the shop. Of course I--that is, my dear father--gave them all necessary assistance; but--" "I understand; they were reduced to objects of charity. Brute that I am, never to have thought of the duties I owed to the couple I had brought together. But pray go on." "You are aware that just before you left us my father received a proposal to exchange his property at Graveleigh for some lands more desirable to him?" "I remember. He closed with that offer." "Yes; Captain Stavers, the new landlord of Graveleigh, seems to be a very bad man; and though he could not turn the Somerses out of the cottage so long as they paid rent, which we took care they did pay,--yet out of a very wicked spite he set up a rival shop in one of his other cottages in the village, and it became impossible for these poor young people to get a livelihood at Graveleigh." "What excuse for spite against so harmless a young couple could Captain Stavers find or invent?" Cecilia looked down and coloured. "It was a revengeful feeling against Jessie." "Ah, I comprehend." "But they have now left the village, and are happily settled elsewhere. Will has recovered his health, and they are prospering much more than they could ever have done at Graveleigh." "In that change you were their benefactress, Miss Travers?" said Kenelm, in a more tender voice and with a softer eye than he had ever before evinced towards the heiress. "No, it is not I whom they have to thank and bless." "Who, then, is it? Your father?" "No. Do not question me. I am bound not to say. They do not themselves know; they rather believe that their gratitude is due to you." "To me! Am I to be forever a sham in spite of myself? My dear Miss Travers, it is essential to my honour that I should undeceive this credulous pair; where can I find them?" "I must not say; but I will ask permission of their concealed benefactor, and send you their address." A touch was laid on Kenelm's arm, and a voice whispered, "May I ask you to present me to Miss Travers?" "Miss Travers," said Kenelm, "I entreat you to add to the list of your acquaintances a cousin of mine,--Mr. Chillingly Gordon." While Gordon addressed to Cecilia the well-bred conventionalisms with which acquaintance in London drawing-rooms usually commences, Kenelm, obedient to a sign from Lady Glenalvon, who had just re-entered the room, quitted his seat, and joined the marchioness. "Is not that young man whom you left talking with Miss Travers your clever cousin Gordon?" "The same." "She is listening to him with great attention. How his face brightens up as he talks! He is positively handsome, thus animated."