"If you had inquired of me, there would have been less likelihood of your being led into error," said his wife, with an ill-concealed sneer, that made the very blood boil in the veins of Dunbar. "Twenty-five thousand dollars!" he muttered to himself a few moments after, as he hastily left the presence of his excited and angry bride. "And is it for such a paltry sum that I have sold myself to this she dev—?" He checked himself suddenly, in very shame, and repeated with much bitterness— "Twenty-five thousand dollars! I can make that any year by cutting my cards aright." It was many hours before the lawyer could think with any calmness upon the new aspect his affairs had suddenly assumed. For his wife, dislike and disgust assumed the place of a forced regard which he had entertained for her, as the representative of a handsome fortune. When he met her, on returning to his elegant home, she was cold, haughty, and reserved, in her manner towards him. Her head was not bowed in bitterness of spirit at the discovery she had made, but was held erect; and she looked at him with a stern, rebuking, imperious gaze, that aroused the worst passions within him. Neither of them referred to the morning's interview. On the next day, Dunbar's mind was made up to go to old Mr. Harrison, and know the truth. He could bear the suspense no longer. Accordingly, he called to see him the first thing in the morning. "I learn from my wife," he said, "that you are her guardian." "I am. I was appointed under her father's will to take charge of her property, and to pay it over to her husband if she ever married." "What is the amount of this property?" asked Dunbar. "Twenty-five thousand dollars were left to her by her father at his death; the balance of his large property went to some distant relatives. Harriet's fortune has, in my hands, increased to thirty thousand dollars." "Was she his only child?" "Yes." "Why did he not leave her more?" "He had his own reasons, I presume," returned Harrison coldly. "The thirty thousand you hold is to be paid to me, I understand." "The will requires me to pay to the husband of Harriet the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars, with any interest accruing there from not already paid to the said Harriet. You are her husband, and of course you are entitled to her fortune." "Yes, that is plain enough. When will you be prepared to arrange it?" "That I have already done," replied the guardian, coolly. "Already done! I do not understand you, Mr. Harrison." "Did I not pay you thirty thousand dollars a few weeks ago?" "Yes, but not on this account." "And did you not then give me a receipt in full of all demands, past, present, and to come?" The face of Dunbar became pale, and his lips quivered. "Was it just in you, sir," he said sternly, "to take that advantage of my ignorance of your relation to my intended wife?"