Norah, who held her sister's hand in her own, felt it tremble for a moment, and then turn cold--and that was all.
"Let me mention plainly what I have done," resumed Mr.Pendril; "I am very desirous you should not think that I have left any effort untried.
When I wrote to Michael Vanstone, in the first instance, I did not confine myself to the usual formal statement.

I put before him, plainly and earnestly, every one of the circumstances under which he has become possessed of his brother's fortune.

When I received the answer, referring me to his written instructions to his lawyer in London--and when a copy of those instructions was placed in my hands--I positively declined, on becoming acquainted with them, to receive the writer's decision as final.

I induce d the solicitor, on the other side, to accord us a further term of delay; I attempted to see Mr.Noel Vanstone in London for the purpose of obtaining his intercession; and, failing in that, I myself wrote to his father for the second time.

The answer referred me, in insolently curt terms, to the instructions already communicated; declared those instructions to be final; and declined any further correspondence with me.