CHAPTER XII.
An agreement had been made between them that some little time should elapse before Allan put his long-cherished scheme into execution.
Nothing, Adelaide assured him, could have answered his purpose better than Marion's marriage with the wealthy Lord Atherton.
"You will be able to get what you like from her, Allan.

I am told she worships her husband.

Those letters will be worth a fortune, after all.
Now see what it is to have a clever sister." They allowed her, poor child, some short dream of happiness; she was lulled into perfect security when the blow fell.

As Lady Atherton of Leigh her position was second to none.

Her husband owned half the county; she was queen of the whole of it.