VERNON FINDS ANOTHER HEIRESS. 75 



who were bound together by an oath, never, in any emergency, 

 to split upon each other, and one of their rules was never to sit 

 drinking in any public-house. The booty was fairly divided 

 amongst them, being sent up to London by a night coach, the 

 guard of which was well paid for his trouble. Instead of com- 

 mon powder and shot, air-guns, with a single ball, were their 

 only weapons, by which the pheasants were noiselessly knocked 

 off their perches ; the most windy and boisterous nights being 

 always selected for their depredations. 



From this digression we must return to Marston Castle, 

 where Lord Mervyn, Vernon, and Harper, having completed 

 their plot for the destruction of Miss Douglas's happiness for 

 life, by uniting her to Lord Vancourt, an adjournment was 

 made to the drawing-room, where sat Lady Mervyn, in regal 

 state, with her only daughter, a timid, child-like girl of about 

 sixteen, who scarcely dared to open her lips in her mother's 

 presence. As Vernon gazed on her pale, interesting features 

 and downcast eyes, a sudden thought passed through his mind, 

 and he sat down by her side, with the hope of drawing her 

 into conversation. But the stolen glance towards her father 

 and mother, with her monosyllabic replies to his questions, re- 

 vealed to him the tyranny under which she suffered. Still she 

 appeared pleased with his attentions, and ventured on a quiet 

 smile at some of his witty remarks. " Do you sing, Miss 

 Mervyn 1 " he asked. 



"No," was the reply. "Mamma says my voice is not 

 sufficiently cultivated to sing in company." 



" Do you play, then ? " 



" Yes, when mamma desires me." 



" Does Lady Mervyn allow you ever to walk by yourself, 

 without one of those tall footmen behind you 1 " 



" Only in the morning, before breakfast." 



Vernon was proceeding to other questions, when Lady 

 Mervyn called him away. But knowing that Miss Mervyn 

 had been left by her grandmother thirty thousand pounds, 

 which would be her own, when she should marry, or become of 

 age, without any restriction, he had mentally resolved on ap- 

 propriating the young lady and her money to himself, as every 

 prospect of obtaining the heiress was at an end. How he suc- 

 ceeded will hereafter be shown ; and we now take our leave of 

 the inmates of Marston Castle for the night. 



