She is a base, designing woman." Mr.Hamilton unwound his daughter's arms from his neck, and speaking more gently, said, "What proof have you of that assertion?
Give me proof, and I promise to do your bidding." But Mag had no such proof at hand, and she could only reiterate her suspicions, her belief, which, of course, failed to convince the biased man, who, rising, said: "Your mother confided and trusted in her, so why should not you ?" The next moment Margaret was alone.

For a long time she wept, and it was not until the eastern horizon began to grow gray in the morning twilight that she laid her head upon her pillow, and forgot in sleep how unhappy she had been.

Her words, however, were not without their effect, for when the night came round on which her father was accustomed to pay his weekly visit, he stayed at home, spending the whole evening with his daughters, and appearing really gratified at Margaret's efforts to entertain him.

But, alas! the chain of the widow was too firmly thrown around him for a daughter's hand alone to sever the fast-bound links.
When the next Thursday evening came Mag was confined to her room by a sick headache, from which she had been suffering all day.

As night approached she frequently asked if her father were below.