. or other of two favourite speculations, his succession to his uncle's ample fortune, or, in the event of ill luck there, an opulent marriage.

Of the former, he had of late begun to entertain less sanguine expectations. Vaughan's absence, far from abating, had appeared to increase, the old man's interest in his welfare. All from whom he was likely to glean the slightest information concerning him, were earnestly questioned. His letters were anxiously expected, and read with avidity; and the decisive step which had been taken, in the second purchase of the commission, was an alarming stretch of liberality totally at variance with his uncle's charac

ter.

A strong doubt respecting Colonel Greville's death, too, had more than once crossed his mind. No certain intelligence of the event had reached his family. A little civility towards his daughter might still be prudent, and could be productive of no harm. He had lately twice in two successive months found his way to Mrs. Vaughan's retreat, and extended his visit each time to the unusual length of an entire week. His attentions to Catherine had even grown so distinct as to excite Mrs. Vaughan's surprise, and Catherine's contemptuous remark, that, "from her early experience, Philip's conduct, how

ever unaccountable it might seem at the time, had always a motive, and that motive, self Ignorant of those yet darker shades in his character, which had come out in the intercourse with her son; while she dreaded his acquiring any undue influence over Catherine's mind, she could not at the same time shut her doors against the nephew of her husband. The only person who had any acquaintance with the pecuniary transaction was Catherine; and Vaughan, before his departure, had extorted from her a re luctant promise of secrecy on the subject, a promise which she had often since repented.