'I fear not--for vengeance on my mother's murderer I would dare
anything.'

'It must not be, young man. You have a sacred duty to perform, more
binding far than vengeance, which is the Lord's alone. You have to heal
the sorrows of those who will be in a great measure dependent upon you
to redress the wrongs of years of oppression, to be a father to the
tenants of your wide domain, and your life must not be idly risked.'

'I have it!' said Edward, eagerly. 'You say my father was fair-haired,
and I am like my mother.'

The seaman took a miniature from his vest, and handed it to him. It
contained two portraits--one of a captain in the British navy, in full
uniform, his head bare, and locks of fair hair falling even over his
shoulders, for he had disdained the peruke then in fashion--and that of
a lady, whose dark eyes and raven ringlets told that her nativity had
been the sunny south.

'Johnson is not unlike the portrait of my father, and is a slim man,'
said Edward. 'He will readily go with me. I will personate my mother. I
am confident the papers are not destroyed, for I have often seen him
when he little dreamed an eye was upon him, examining some papers he
keeps in a small casket on his toilet, and one in particular, a document
of some length, which he has often seemed to me about to tear, but
always replaced.'

'It will do,' said his grandfather. 'Good Mrs. Ally will procure you the
necessary attire. She can be trusted fully, and I will reconcile her and