ory to my feelings. I stepped back,
however.

'Make your story a short one,' said he, putting his hand on the small
silver bell that stood on the table beside him, 'or I shall be obliged to
call for assistance. I am in no state to bear your brutalities now, or
your presence either.' And in truth the moisture started from his pores
and stood on his pale forehead like dew.

Such a reception was hardly calculated to diminish the difficulties of my
unenviable task. It must be performed however, in some fashion; and so I
plunged into it at once, and floundered through it as I could.

'The truth is, Lawrence,' said I, 'I have not acted quite correctly
towards you of late--especially on this last occasion; and I'm come
to--in short, to express my regret for what has been done, and to beg
your pardon. If you don't choose to grant it,' I added hastily, not
liking the aspect of his face, 'it's no matter; only I've done my
duty--that's all.'

'It's easily done,' replied he, with a faint smile bordering on a sneer:
'to abuse your friend and knock him on the head without any assignable
cause, and then tell him the deed was not quite correct, but it's no
matter whether he pardons it or not.'

'I forgot to tell you that it was in consequence of a mistake,'--muttered
I. 'I should have made a very handsome apology, but you provoked me so
confoundedly with your--. Well, I suppose it's my fault. The fact is, I
didn't know that you were Mrs. Graham's brother, and I saw and heard some
things respecting your conduct towards her which were calculated to
awaken unpleasant suspicions, that, allow me to say, a little candour and
confidence on your part might have removed; and, at last, I chanced to
overhear a part of a conversation between you and her that made me think
I had a right to hate you.'

'And how came you to know that I was her brother?' asked he, in some
anxiety.

'She told me herself. She told me all. She knew I might be trusted.
But you needn't disturb yourself about that, Mr. Lawrence, for I've seen
the last of her!'

'The last! Is she gone, then?'

'No; but she has bid adieu to me, and I have promised never to go near
that house again while she inhabits it.' I could have groaned aloud at
the bitter thoughts awakened by this turn in the discourse. But I only
clenched my hands and stamped my foot upon the rug. My companion,
however, was evidently relieved.

'You have done right,' he said, in a tone of unq