CHAPTER II.
HOW EUSTACE WAS DISINHERITED.
There was a pause--a dreadful pause.

The flash had left the cloud, but the answering thunder had not burst upon the ear.

Mr.Meeson gasped.

Then he took up the cheque which Augusta had thrown upon the table and slowly crumpled it.
"What did you say, young man ?" he said at last, in a cold, hard voice.
"I said that you ought to be ashamed of yourself," answered his nephew, standing his ground bravely; "and, what is more, I meant it!" "Oh! Now will you be so kind as to explain exactly why you said that, and why you meant it ?" "I meant it," answered his nephew, speaking in a full, strong voice, "because that girl was right when she said that you had cheated her, and you know that she was right.

I have seen the accounts of 'Jemima's Vow'-- I saw them this morning--and you have already made more than a thousand pounds clear profit on the book.