to suspect a consciousness of wrong. What if this woman be not his
child! How shall their relationship be ascertained?"

I was summoned at the customary hour to breakfast. My mind was full of
ideas connected with this incident. I was not endowed with sufficient
firmness to propose the cool and systematic observation of this man's
deportment. I felt as if the state of my mind could not but be evident
to him; and experienced in myself all the confusion which this discovery
was calculated to produce in him. I would have willingly excused myself
from meeting him; but that was impossible.

At breakfast, after the usual salutations, nothing was said. For a time
I scarcely lifted my eyes from the table. Stealing a glance at Welbeck,
I discovered in his features nothing but his wonted gravity. He appeared
occupied with thoughts that had no relation to last night's adventure.
This encouraged me; and I gradually recovered my composure. Their
inattention to me allowed me occasionally to throw scrutinizing and
comparing glances at the face of each.

The relationship of parent and child is commonly discovered in the
visage; but the child may resemble either of its parents, yet have no
feature in common with both. Here outlines, surfaces, and hues were in
absolute contrariety. That kindred subsisted between them was possible,
notwithstanding this dissimilitude; but this circumstance contributed to
envenom my suspicions.

Breakfast being finished, Welbeck cast an eye of invitation to the
piano-forte. The lady rose to comply with his request. My eye chanced
to be, at that moment, fixed on her. In stepping to the instrument, some
motion or appearance awakened a thought in my mind which affected my