'It's too bad,' muttered he; 'but I'll set matters right, or my name's not Harry Harson.' There was something in the hearty greeting of the old fellow, as he took her hands in his and called her his bright-eyed girl, so full of happiness that it was impossible not to catch the same feeling as he spoke; and even Jacob, as he felt the cordial grasp of his hand, assured himself, and assumed something like a cheerful smile. 'Well, Kate,' said Harson, drawing a chair between her and her father; 'I've news for _you_; and for _you_ too, my old fellow,' said he, turning to Rhoneland; 'we've used Rust up.' Jacob stared at him, smiled faintly and half doubtfully, and then sank back in his chair without speaking. 'Do you hear me?' exclaimed Harson, seizing him by the collar and shaking him; 'do you hear me? Why don't you jump up and hurrah at the downfall of such a scoundrel? Ha! ha! We've been on his track for months; but we've run him down at last; and then he made a virtue of necessity, and told all--all about the children, and about you, and about Ned; all lies, all lies--every word of them: Ned he swore was as honest a fellow as ever lived, or something to that effect. _You_, he admitted, had committed no forgery; not a word of truth in it; but all invented, to force you to consent to his marriage with my own little sweet-heart, Kate. God bless me! how near I was to losing her! Perhaps you don't know that I intend marrying her myself? Why don't you get up now, and hurrah? Confound it, I never saw such people in all my life. Halloh! by Jove! Kate, quick! some water! I swear, the old fellow has fainted!'