No one would have believed my plea--no one would have allowed that the truth was an excuse.

I was abused on all hands.

And when, shortly after, my father made his will and died, doubtless he cut me off with my small annuity on this very account.

My cousin Mary got a good deal of the money that would otherwise have been mine.

The old man had been on rather better terms with me just before that; in a will that he destroyed I believe he had treated me handsomely.' 'Well, well,' said Micklethwaite, 'every one knows there are detestable women to be found.