the duke is very generous," said Miss Holland, composedly.
"He loaded me with diamonds and gold."

"And meanwhile I was doomed almost to suffer want," said the duchess,
grinding her teeth.

"Want of love, it may be, my lady, but not want of money; for you are
very magnificently fitted up; and every one knows that the Duchess of
Norfolk is rich enough to be able to spare the trifles that her husband
laid at my feet. By Heaven! my lady, I would not have deemed it worth
the trouble to stoop for them, if I had not seen among these trifles his
heart. The heart of a man is well worth a woman's stooping for! You have
neglected that, my lady, and therefore you lost your husband's heart. I
picked it up. That is all. Why will you make a crime of that?"

"That is enough!" cried the duchess. "It does not become me to dispute
with you; I desire only to know what gave you the courage to come to
me?"

"My lady, do you hate me only? Or do you also hate the duke your
husband?"

"She asks me whether I hate him!" cried the duchess, with a wild,
scornful laugh. "Yes, Miss Holland, yes! I hate him as ardently as I
despise you. I hate him so much that I would give my whole estate--ay,
years of my life--if I could punish him for the disgrace he has put upon
me."

"Then, my lady, we shall soon understand each other; for I too hate
him," said Miss Holland, quietly seating herself on the velvet divan,
and smiling as she observed the speechless astonishment of the duchess.

"Yes, my lady, I hate him; and without doubt still more ardently, still
more intensely than you yourself; for I am young and fiery; you are old,
and have always managed to preserve a cool heart."

The duchess was convulsed with rage; but silently, and with an effort,
she gulped down the drop of wormwood which her wicked rival mingled in
the cup of joy which she presented to her.

"You do hate him, Miss Holland?" asked she, joyfully.

"I hate him, and I have come to league myself with you against him. He
is a traitor, a perfidious wretch, a perjurer. I will take vengeance for
my disgrace!"

"Ah, has he then deserted you also?"

"He has deserted me also."

"Well, then, God be praised!" cried the duchess, and her face beamed
with joy. "God is great and just; and He has punished you with the same
weapons with which you sinned! For your sake, he deserted me; and for
the sake of another woman, he forsakes you."

"Not so, my lady!" said Miss Holland, proudly. "A wo