Sometimes I thought he was angry at my remaining so long away; but, if so, he might have given me a hint to return, or have suffered some one else to give it, for he never wrote to me." "Never wrote to you ?" repeated Mr.Bitterworth.
"Not once, the whole of the time I was away.

I wrote to him often; but if he had occasion to send me a message, Mrs.Verner or Fred Massingbird would write it.

Of course, this will, disinheriting me, proves that my staying away could not have been the cause of displeasure--it is dated only the week after I went." "Whatever may have been the cause, it is a grievous wrong inflicted on you.

He was my dear friend, and we have but now returned from laying him in his grave, but still I must speak out my sentiments--that he had _no right_ to deprive you of Verner's Pride." Lionel knit his brow.

That he thought the same; that he was feeling the injustice as a crying and unmerited wrong, was but too evident.