For months before my niece's death this cunning girl, prompted by her designing family, remained at her sick bed, tended her, nursed her, and would scarcely allow a single individual to approach her except herself.

In short, she gained such an undue and iniquitous influence over both parent and child, that her diabolical object was accomplished." "Diabolical! Well, I can see nothing diabolical in it, for so far.
Affection and sympathy on the one hand, and gratitude on the other--that seems much more like the thing.

But proceed, madam." "Why, my poor brother, who became silly and enfeebled in intellect by the loss of his child, was prevailed on by Miss Goodwin and her family to adopt her as his daughter, and by a series of the most artful and selfish manoeuvres they succeeded in getting the poor imbecile and besotted old man to make a will in her favor; and the consequence was that he left her twelve hundred a year, both to her and her issue, should she marry and have any; but in case she should have no issue, then, after her death, it was to revert to my son Woodward for whom it was originally intended by my brother.

It was a most unprincipled and shameful transaction on the part of these Goodwins.

Providence, however, would seem to have punished them for their iniquity, for Miss Goodwin is dying--at least, beyond all hope.