"He shall not marry her. I'll kill him first!"


CHAPTER III.

RICHARD BASSETT eagerly offered his services to break off the obnoxious
match. But Miss Somerset was beginning to be mortified at having shown
so much passion before a stranger.

"What have you to do with it?" said she, sharply.

"Everything. I love Miss Bruce."

"Oh, yes; I forgot that. Anything else? There is, now. I see it in your
eye. What is it?"

"Sir Charles's estates are mine by right, and they will return to my
line if he does not marry and have issue."

"Oh, I see. That is so like a man. It's always love, and something more
important, with you. Well, give me your address. I'll write if I want
you."

"Highly flattered," said Bassett, ironically-wrote his address and left
her.

Miss Somerset then sat down and wrote: