45$ THE BARONET'S DAUGHTER. ' 



" It is none of these things, Sir," said Willoughby. " I have not 

 mislaid the deed, it is here," and he drew it from his pocket, and as 

 he gazed upon it for some minutes, a heavy sigh escaped him. 



" You sigh, Sir," said the baronet, " and let me tell you, Wil- 

 loughby, property alone will never secure happiness, you have found 

 it so." ' 



Willoughby raised his eyes slowly, and directed a vague glance 

 at the baronet, as though suddenly recalled from some absorbing 

 memory. " I did not sigh for that" said he, " I understand your 

 insinuation; here, Sir Robert," and he handed the deed toward him, 

 " take it, it is yours, I relinquish, for I have no right to it." 



Sir Robert slowly raised himself in his chair, and placed his snuff- 

 box upon the table, and leaning forward, with contracted brows 

 looked with a searching glance into Willoughby's face. " Relin- 

 quish it!" he ejaculated in astonishment, " relinquish it, did I hear 

 you aright? relinquish it, did you say?" 



Willoughby bowed assent. 



" By heaven I it is strange, very strange," muttered the baronet, 

 and he sank into a reverie. There was a silence of some minutes. 



" I have now told you my business," said Willoughby, at length,, 

 laying the deed upon the table, " and I leave you. When we meet 

 again, you will, perhaps, judge me less harshly than you have hitherto 

 done," and he arose. " Farewell, Sir Robert Aylmer." 



The baronet motioned with his head for Willoughby to be seated. 

 He obeyed. " One moment more," said Sir Robert, "before you do 

 leave me," and drawing himself up in his chair, he continued in a 

 measured and emphatic tone, " I now see it all, although I cannot 

 see through it, it is dark, Willoughby, but it is distinct. You are a 

 villain, with a conscience ; and something horrible remains behind 

 untold. Why had she not told me all? but she was ever too gentle 

 and too good. You go, Sir, but we meet again, and that shortly. 

 Your reparation avails you nought, it is not worth this," and he 

 snapped his fingers. 



" I expected this," said Willoughby in a tone of deep mortification. 

 " I was prepared for the construction which you have put upon my 

 conduct, and I feel that your enmity to me is unconquerable." 



" Have I not cause for it, Sir, have I not cause, good, eternal 

 cause?" and the baronet sprung from his chair; "by heaven! your 

 baseness, Willoughby, confounds me ; the imperturbable equanimity 

 of this villain makes me mad, mad. You will give me back my 

 property, will you? my property, ha! ha! wretch! slave! but 

 come this way, Sir," and he drew the other by the wrist to the further 

 end of the room, and seizing a key from the table, thrust it into the 

 lock of a large cabinet, " but my property is not enough, it will not 

 suffice, I must have more, now, Sir," and he threw back the doors of 

 the cabinet with furious violence, " will you give me back her her 

 her." 



With a cry of horror Willoughby fell upon his knees, as the sight 

 before him met his eyes. " Gracious God !" he cried, " what dread- 

 ful spectacle is this?" 



u Peace, peace," said the baronet in a whisper, pointing with hist 



