e hostess, or even the cheerful
friend: I had just ensconced myself within the bow of the window, and was
looking out upon the west, where the darkening hills rose sharply defined
against the clear amber light of evening, that gradually blended and
faded away into the pure, pale blue of the upper sky, where one bright
star was shining through, as if to promise--'When that dying light is
gone, the world will not be left in darkness, and they who trust in God,
whose minds are unbeclouded by the mists of unbelief and sin, are never
wholly comfortless,'--when I heard a hurried step approaching, and Lord
Lowborough entered. This room was still his favourite resort. He flung
the door to with unusual violence, and cast his hat aside regardless
where it fell. What could be the matter with him? His face was ghastly
pale; his eyes were fixed upon the ground; his teeth clenched: his
forehead glistened with the dews of agony. It was plain he knew his
wrongs at last!

Unconscious of my presence, he began to pace the room in a state of
fearful agitation, violently wringing his hands and uttering low groans
or incoherent ejaculations. I made a movement to let him know that he
was not alone; but he was too preoccupied to notice it. Perhaps, while
his back was towards me, I might cross the room and slip away unobserved.
I rose to make the attempt, but then he perceived me. He started and
stood still a moment; then wiped his streaming forehead, and, advancing
towards me, with a kind of unnatural composure, said in a deep, almost
sepulchral tone,--'Mrs. Huntingdon, I must leave you to-morrow.'

'To-morrow!' I repeated. 'I do not ask the cause.'

'You know it then, and you can be so calm!' said he, surveying me with
profound astonishment, not unmingled with a kind of resentful bitterness,
as it appeared to me.

'I have so long been aware of--' I paused in time, and added, 'of my
husband's character, that nothing shocks me.'

'But this--how long have you been aware of this?' demanded he, laying his
clenched hand on the table beside him, and looking me keenly and fixedly
in the face.

I felt like a criminal.

'Not long,' I answered.

'You knew it!' cried he, with bitter vehemence--'and you did not tell me!
You helped to deceive me!'

'My lord, I did not help to deceive you.'

'Then why did you not tell me?'

'Because I knew it would be painful to you. I hoped she would return to
her duty, and then there would be no ne