Read it, I say, and fancy he is speaking to you from the grave in these terms--'Take this man for thy husband, O my daughter, and take my blessing with him.

Reject him, and my curse shall alight upon thy head.'" But Aveline was too much engrossed to heed him.

Suddenly her eye caught something she had not previously noticed, and she exclaimed,--"I have detected the stratagem.

I knew this authority could never be committed to you." "What mean you, fair mistress ?" cried Sir Francis, surprised and alarmed.

"My name may not appear upon the face of the document; but, nevertheless, I am the person referred to by it." "The document itself disproves your assertion," cried Aveline, with exultation.
"How so ?" demanded Sir Giles, uneasily.
"Why, see you not that he to whom my father designed to give my hand was named Osmond Mounchensey ?" "Osmond Mounchensey!" exclaimed Sir Giles, starting.
"This is pure invention!" cried Sir Francis.