"Confound it, Jenny," said her husband, "let the young man breathe, at
least, before you bring up that eternal subject. Is not the matter over
and decided and where is the use of your making both yourself and us
unhappy by discussing it?"

"It may be decided, but it is not over, Lindsay," she replied; "don't
imagine it: I shall pursue the Goodwins, especially that sorceress,
Alice, with a vengeance that will annul the will, and circumvent those
who wheedled him into the making of it. My curse upon them all, as it
will be!"

"Harry, when you become better acquainted with your mother," said his
step-father, "you will get sick of this. Have you breakfasted; for that
is more to the point?"

"I have, sir," replied the other; "and you would scarcely guess where;"
and here he smiled and glanced significantly at his mother.

"Why, I suppose," said Lindsay, "in whatever inn you stopped at."

"No," he replied; "I was obliged to seek shelter from the storm last
night, and where do you think I found it?"

"Heaven knows. Where?"

"Why, with your friend and neighbor, Mr. Goodwin."

"No friend, Harry," said his mother; "don't say that."