AGAIN, OLD AND NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 135

own net, and were only the more angry from that
fact. Every argument now that could be advanced
against Williams was brought forward—his being,
as it were, nobody—his early connection with the
players—his shop. But these arguments had no
weight with the lady ; she was not a child, she said,
to be turned about by the first adverse opinion; she
had chosen him in the maturity of her judgment ;
she had no fear but that he was of honest descent :
and, in spite of old scandals, in spite of the shop, it
was her firm intention to unite herself to him. For
a short time the brothers were silent; but again they
came forward triumphantly against Williams, full of
the most fearful anxiety for their sister, They had
been making inquiries—a rumour had reached them,
they were themselves convinced of the truth of it—
Williams was the son of a convict swindler! the son
of that Edwards who was transported sixteen years
ago for forgery. He had been adopted by the
Osbornes, and did not bear even his own name! Their
sister never should marry the son of a convict—they
would oppose it in every way—she might turn
Catholic, and enter a convent, but marry him she
never should.

Thus the brothers wrote to her, and at the very
same time poor Edwards wrote to his son a letter
of humility and prayer. He was ill, he said: his
daughter was wearing herself away over her work,
which brought her no profit. If he, the son, would
only allow them a hundred pounds a year, to be paid
by a respectable banker, they would quit the town for
ever, to live in some quiet, secluded place, where he
should never hear of them more. Oh! for the love
of mercy, would he but do this?

~