By Berwen Banks

He reached a glass of water which stood on the table, and, having drunk

some, looked again at his son.

"You see, Caradoc, if I have withheld this information from you long, I

am telling you everything now. Just about this time my brother Lewis,

who had for some years been settled in Scotland to learn farming, came

home to Brynderyn, although I, being the elder son, was the owner of

the place. Lewis had a small annuity settled upon him. As I was on

the eve of being married, he was much interested in my affairs, and

spoke of his admiration of Agnes in such glowing terms, that I felt,

and, I fear, showed some resentment. However, as he was well

acquainted with my suspicious nature, he was not offended, but laughed

me out of my doubts for the time--for the time," he repeated, again

fixing his eyes on the spot on the carpet. "Bear in mind, Cardo,

through every word of this history, that the suspicion and mistrust of

my nature amounted almost to insanity. I see it now, and, thank God,

have conquered it in some measure. Well, we were married. Lewis was

my groomsman, and Ellen Vaughan was the bridesmaid. It was a very

quiet wedding, as Mrs. Vaughan was in very bad health--in fact, she

died soon after our marriage, and Agnes seemed to feel the loss of her

aunt so acutely that I was jealous and angry, and she saw that I was

so, and endeavoured to hide her tears, poor child! poor child! I don't

think her uncle ever liked me, or approved of our marriage. Happily he

had no control over Agnes's fortune, or I believe she would never have

had a penny of it; but I think he might have trusted me there, for I

have nursed it--yes and doubled it," he mumbled, as though forgetting

he was speaking to anyone but the carpet. "Well, let me see--where was

I?"

"But my mother, sir?" interrupted Cardo; "tell me something about

her--was she pretty?"

"Yes, she was beautiful, very lovely, with a foreign Spanish look in

her eyes--you have the same, I think, Cardo. There was a tradition of

Spanish blood in the family."

"And had she a Spanish temper, sir? quick and hasty, I mean."

"No, no, quite the contrary; a sweet and amiable temper, but certainly

with a good deal of pride, which resented a suspicion like a blow," and

the old man sighed heavily. "My brother Lewis made his home at

Brynderyn, while he was looking about for some suitable opening for his

farming operations, and here in the midst of my newly-found happiness,

with hope and love shedding their beams around me, I allowed the first

insidious entrance of the serpent of distrust and jealousy of my wife

into my heart. My brother Lewis was very unlike me in appearance and

disposition, being of a frank and genial manner, and trustful to a

fault. I think you inherit that trait from him; be careful of it,

Caradoc, or you will be cheated by every man you meet. Not that I

would have you follow my example--God forbid! but there is a happy

mean, a safe path between these two traits of character."