man^ who perfectly detested his aunt, had not
merely virtually ignored her very existence^ but
had induced his wealthy high-bom bride to do the
same : the spirit of opposition and the spirit of re-
venge had both induced her to take Ernest's part;
and when Mina turned and confidently asked her
to plead their cause, — ^when, through the flickering
light, she saw an almost child-like figure standing
imploringly before her, and heard her repeat, in
a voice subdued by sorrow, yet rendered steady by
a good purpose, the brief story of her sufferings,
her desolation, his kindness, his disinterested affec-
tion, some strange feeling was aroused. Perhaps
there floated before the eyes of the miser's sister
a shadowy memory of her own girlhood, of a time
when money was not everything ; perhaps the soft
tones of Mina's voice came on her soul like some-
thing better and sweeter than aught which had
swept over it for years; perhaps, whatever of
woman's nature long habits of hoarding and sav-
ing had left in her bosom was touched at sight of
the young wife's utter helplessness; perhaps she
really did think that, as Sir Ernest, not she, would
have to maintain the new comer, it might not be
altogether unpleasant for her to have a meek docile
slave always at hand to order about and watch and



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domineer over and employ in all sorts of domestic
drudgery.
