58 THE PHRENOLOGIST. 



the father of my affianced wife, Lord Rickworth, has dismissed me 

 his house with the most humiliating contempt. Maddened with grief 

 and indignation, I mounted my horse, and fled I knew not whither. 

 I had some vague idea of burying myself in solitude, but I knew 

 not how I came in the situation in which you found me. 



" Animal propensities largely developed moral and intellectual, 

 small, destructiveness yes, yes, it's all clear enough," muttered the 

 doctor at intervals, and recounting a catalogue of vices enough to 

 have stocked a Pandemonium/' " He is a bad fellow, my dear young 

 friend," said he, addressing his companion. " You need not trouble 

 yourself further in this affair; you may consider your reputation 

 already established ; I hold proofs sufficient to clear you from these 

 slanders in any court in Christendom." 



" Good heavens ! is it possible ?" exclaimed Trevor ; " am I so 

 fortunate? what are the proofs? where are they ?" 



" Here they are irrefragable/' said the doctor, gravely, pointing 

 to the folio register. 



The countenance of Trevor suddenly fell when he saw the nature 

 of the doctor's proofs. The excitement of joy suddenly vanished, 

 as he said, faintly, " I very much fear 



" Come, come/' interrupted the Doctor, " you need not despond. 

 Although, with the scientific, this folio would be conclusive, for 

 those who doubt such testimony I have other evidence/' He then 

 drew from his pocket-book a letter. ff I told you," he continued, 

 " that I utterly scouted the idea of your being the guilty person, 

 knowing, as I did, that it was not possible, that it was contrary to 

 the laws of science. I have, therefore, anxiously sought for proofs 

 to establish my opinion, which I have found. Thus, the pain you 

 have suffered will be of signal benefit to mankind, by promoting the 

 cause of science and truth. Read : I have received it from the mo- 

 ther of this unhappy individual; I have attended her in illness, 

 brought on by grief for her daughter's conduct." 



Trevor eagerly cast his eyes over the contents of the letter, and his 

 countenance brightened at every line. It was indeed from the unfor- 

 tunate daughter of Mary Aldridge to her poor stricken mother, im- 

 ploring her forgiveness, and begging her to go to Lord Rickworth, 

 and confess to him, that, by alternate lures and threats, she had been 

 prevailed upon to denounce Mr. Charles Trevor as the author of her 

 ruin and subsequent abandonment ; that she had reaped no reward 

 for such additional guilt, for that, after his object was accomplished, 

 she had been again deserted by Mr. Frank Trevor, who had origi- 

 nally taken her from her home. Overwhelmed by remorse, and in 

 utter destitution, she confessed her guilt, and implored forgiveness. 



" My benefactor, my friend/' exclaimed Trevor in hurried accents, 

 as he held in his hands this proof of his innocence, " I must imme- 

 diately haste to town. I cannot rest till I have proved to Lord Rick- 

 worth the fabrication, which has nearly been my ruin, and again claim 

 my Emily, now, indeed, my own." 



" Stay, young man,'' said the Phrenologist, detaining him, for he 

 was rising to depart ; <e from the formation of your cranium, I should 

 hardly have expected such impetuosity. I do not remember to have 

 seen the organ of " 



