on's recent pleasure that the newspapers should not be seen by
Lady Isabel until he had over-looked them. You will speedily gather his
motive.

Pierre departed toward Captain Levison's room, and Lady Isabel took
up the letters and examined their superscription with interest. It was
known to her that Mr. Carlyle had not lost a moment in seeking a divorce
and the announcement that it was granted was now daily expected. She was
anxious for it--anxious that Captain Levison should render her the only
reparation in his power before the birth of her unhappy child. Little
thought she that there was not the least intention on his part to make
her reparation, any more than he had made it to others who had gone
before her. She had become painfully aware of the fact that the man
for whom she had chosen to sacrifice herself was bad, but she had not
learned all his badness yet.

Captain Levison, unwashed, unshaven, with a dressing-gown loosely flung
on, lounged in to breakfast. The decked-out dandies before the world are
frequently the greatest slovens in domestic privacy. He wished her good
morning in a careless tone of apathy, and she as apathetically answered
to it.

"Pierre says there are some letters," he began. "What a precious hot day
it is!"

"Two," was her short reply, her tone sullen as his. For if you think my
good reader, that the flattering words, the ardent expressions, which
usually attend the first go-off of these promising unions last out
a whole ten months, you are in egregious error. Compliments the very
opposite to honey and sweetness have generally supervened long before.
Try it, if you don't believe me.

"Two letters," she continued, "and they are both in the same
handwriting--your solicitors', I believe."

Up went his hand at the last word, and he made a sort of grab at the
letters, stalked to the farthest window, opened it, and glanced over its
contents.

"Sir--We beg to inform you that the suit Carlyle vs. Carlyle, is at an
end. The divorce was pronounced without opposition. According to your
request, we hasten to forward you the earliest intimation of the fact.

"We are, sir, faithfully yours,

"MOSS & GRAB.

"F. LEVISON, Esq."

It was over, then, and all claim to the name of Carlyle was declared to
have been forfeited by the Lady Isabel forever. Captain Levison folded
up the letter, and placed it securely in an inner pocket.

"Is there any news?" she asked.

"News!"

"Of the divorce, I