"What can he be thinking of?" cried the reader, with a burst of angry tears. "Why should he expect such an unheard of thing from me, if he has lost Castle Brand and Seven Oak Waaste?"
This was a new light upon St. Udo Brand's movements. Did his character suffer by it? He had gone away and given up his lands to one whom he considered a greedy schemer; and he had flung himself into another life, for the sake of her whom he loved. How had she wronged him by her terror of him?
Quick as light her feelings underwent a change, and my lady gazed in astonishment as her quiet companion threw off the guise which she had worn for security.
"Dear Lady Juliana," panted Margaret, "do not blame Captain Brand, who has been honorable to his engagement with you where meaner men have failed. Perhaps--who knows? yours may be the hand which will lead him into a higher way. Oh, my darling, do not hold lightly your power."
"Why should you espouse Captain Brand's cause?" demanded my lady. "What can Miss Blair have to do with Captain Brand?"
Tears burst from the eyes of the quiet companion, and rushed in a volcanic shower down her cheeks, as she answered,
"_You!_" exclaimed my lady, after a stare of unutterable astonishment.
"My darling Lady Julie!" cried Margaret, catching my lady's hands and holding them in her own. "I am that unfortunate, that wretched _protegee_ of Mrs. Brand's unwise affection; but never think that I would accept the Brand estates when obtained in such a way, or that I would willingly defraud St. Udo Brand. I thank Heaven that these hands," proudly holding them out, "are yet unsullied by such sin."
"How is it that you are here under the name of Blair."
"I left Castle Brand to win my bread, and did not wish to be traced."
"How strange! Then the fortune will doubtless revert to the rightful heir if you are sincere in refusing it?"
"I fear not. The executors will hold it for one year: and if by that time Captain Brand and I," with a bitter tide of crimson in her face, "have failed to fulfil the conditions of the will--that is, to get married--and I still refuse the property, Seven Oak Waaste will probably go into chancery."
Lady Julie gave a cry as if after the vanishing estates, and covered her face with her hands, petulantly weeping.