"What mean you, Sir!" exclaimed Lady Corbet, exalting her voice. "I would not have you imagine, because I have demeaned myself, by permitting an intimacy, that you are authorised to treat me with this freedom! Lady Corbet, Sir, believe me, will not be insulted with impunity!" "Have you not deserved this treatment, Lady Corbet?" asked Mr. Talton solemnly. "Nay more!--Look round this circle--here are more than one to prove the injustice of your conduct. This Lady, you falsely informed me, your husband kept previously to his marriage--an abandoned mistress: and, as such, did you not drive his sister destitute on the world?--Demeaned by my acquaintance!--There sits a living proof of that existing between yourself and the Steward of your father. This young lady was left an infant at Rennes, nearly twenty years since, by Mallet; and is, as I have been informed, the daughter of her whom I am now addressing, and entitled to the sum of thirty thousand pounds, bequeathed in trust to you, by the late Miss Louisa Holly! I mention these circumstances, Madam, just to convince you--" "Spare--spare my mother!" shrieked Louise, wringing her hands, "I want no fortune! Force not a parent's curses on my head!" "Compose yourself, my Louise," said the alarmed Harland; "and let consideration for your husband calm these transports!"--But, breaking from his arms, she threw herself at the feet of the apparently horror-stricken Lady Corbet; clasped her hand to her bosom, and, faintly murmuring--"Oh my mother!" sunk insensible on the floor. She was immediately conveyed from the room by her husband, followed by Mrs. Howard, Ellen, and Eliza. Mr. Talton's agitation, which he in vain strove to conquer, prevented his immediately proceeding; but, the Captain perceiving Lady Corbet recovering from her surprise, said, "I believe, Madam, you will no longer wonder at Mr. Talton's becoming, with me, the guardian of your son; who, at length, has consented to commit his cause to the decision of justice: and, the ensuing term, will commence a suit, which, I am afraid, will render you an object of abhorrence in every worthy heart." "And who art thou?" asked Lady Corbet, scornfully, "or by what right dare you impute these crimes to me--or threaten me with an appeal to justice? The estates--the property I hold--are mine; nor can you deprive me of them. By the will of my husband I hold them; and, protected by the law, I will enjoy them!" "The will you hold them by, Madam," repeated Mr. Talton, "is a false one! and so it shall be proved, to your utter confusion!"