Some practical joker (the bridesmaid's brother was suspected), by way of giving Maria a present on her approaching wedding, as it would seem, had cleverly imitated her father's hand-writing, and--that letter was a forgery! to every body's great amazement.

Nobody could, according to his own account, be kinder than John, who had done more than mortal things to appease his father; but the old man remained implacable.

It was a meanly-contrived clandestine match, he said; and he never intended to set eyes on them again! As for John, he in that letter had strongly counselled them to keep away, and trust to him for bringing his father round.

In the midst of their terrible dilemma, kind brother John seemed as an angel sent by Heaven to assist them.
Dear children of affection and calamity! how innocently did they walk into the snare; and how closely doth the wicked man draw his toils around them.

Who can accuse them of any wrong (the hopefulness of love considered) in point either of honour or duty?
And shall they not be righted at the last?
It may be so--it shall be so: but Holy Providence hath purposes of good in plunging those twin wedded hearts deep beneath the billows of earthly destitution.