"Setting aside my love for Lionel, which was great, setting aside my finding him unworthy, it has been a bitter trial to me to leave Verner's Pride to a Massingbird.

I have never loved the Massingbirds," he continued, dropping his voice to a whisper.
"If Lionel _were_ unworthy,"-- with a stress upon the "were,"-- "you might have left it to Jan," spoke Mr.Bitterworth.
"Lady Verner has thrown too much estrangement between Jan and me.No.

I would rather even a Massingbird had it than Jan." "If Lionel were unworthy, I said," resumed Mr.Bitterworth.

"I cannot believe he is.

How has he proved himself so?
What has he done ?" Mr.Verner put up his hands as if to ward off some imaginary phantom, and his pale face turned of a leaden hue.
"Never ask me," he whispered.