ted but by those who
suffer, from the effects of it, such cruel torments that they know it to
be indeed reality. But what can you do in the cold, rough world alone?
you, a young and inexperienced woman, delicately nurtured, and utterly--'

'In a word, you would advise me to stay where I am,' interrupted I.
'Well, I'll see about it.'

'By all means, leave him!' cried he earnestly; 'but NOT alone! Helen! let
me protect you!'

'Never! while heaven spares my reason,' replied I, snatching away the
hand he had presumed to seize and press between his own. But he was in
for it now; he had fairly broken the barrier: he was completely roused,
and determined to hazard all for victory.

'I must not be denied!' exclaimed he, vehemently; and seizing both my
hands, he held them very tight, but dropped upon his knee, and looked up
in my face with a half-imploring, half-imperious gaze. 'You have no
reason now: you are flying in the face of heaven's decrees. God has
designed me to be your comfort and protector--I feel it, I know it as
certainly as if a voice from heaven declared, "Ye twain shall be one
flesh"--and you spurn me from you--'

'Let me go, Mr. Hargrave!' said I, sternly. But he only tightened his
grasp.

'Let me go!' I repeated, quivering with indignation.

His face was almost opposite the window as he knelt. With a slight
start, I saw him glance towards it; and then a gleam of malicious triumph
lit up his countenance. Looking over my shoulder, I beheld a shadow just
retiring round the corner.

'That is Grimsby,' said he deliberately. 'He will report what he has
seen to Huntingdon and all the rest, with such embellishments as he
thinks proper. He has no love for you, Mrs. Huntingdon--no reverence for
your sex, no belief in virtue, no admiration for its image. He will give
such a version of this story as will leave no doubt at all about your
character, in the minds of those who hear it. Your fair fame is gone;
and nothing that I or you can say can ever retrieve it. But give me the
power to protect you, and show me the villain that dares to insult!'

'No one has ever dared to insult me as you are doing now!' said I, at
length releasing my hands, and recoiling from him.

'I do not insult you,' cried he: 'I worship you. You are my angel, my
divinity! I lay my powers at your feet, and you must and shall accept
them!' he exclaimed, impetuously starting to his feet. 'I will be your
consoler and defender! a