cintillating eyes and flushed cheeks--"to find you have put on a mask
to deceive me! Have you not succeeded in inspiring me with esteem for
you by your proud and dignified behaviour, and the elevated sentiments
you professed? And do you think I can be happy to find that all this
was but a comedy? Could a gentleman have treated me so? But you have
deceived yourself, Jonker van Zonshoven. I gave my heart to a young
man without fortune, whose upright and noble character I admired, and
in whom I had more confidence than in myself; but for the intriguer,
who, to seize upon my aunt's fortune and make sure of it, has put on
a disguise to win the heart of the woman he was ordered to marry, for
this hypocrite, this pretended sage, I have nothing but--my contempt!"

"Be careful, Francis; I know your violent temper often causes you
to say that which in cooler moments you regret; but don't insult in
such a manner the man you have just accepted as your husband--a man
whom no one ever dared to address in such language, neither will he
meekly bear it from any living being."

"Need I make any respectful apologies, or do I owe any excuses to you,
who have deceived me, lied to me, who have introduced yourself here
like a spy, and carried on your mean and degrading speculations up to
the very moment when you thought it impossible for me to retract my
word? Once more, sir, I tell you, you are mistaken in my character. I
will never pardon a man who has abused my confidence!"

"I have not abused your confidence, Francis," I answered, in as
calm and gentle a tone as I could; "I have only been studying your
character, and trying to gain your affections, before I would venture
an avowal of my sentiments--that is all I have done."

"You have been false, I tell you. How can I any longer believe in your
love? You came here to make what is called a good stroke of business,
to gain your million. It is true, I loved you such as you were not
as you now appear in my eyes. I will not be disposed of in marriage
by any person dead or alive; and as for you, I refuse your offer. Do
you understand me? I refuse you!"

Upon this she fell back in an armchair, pale as death.

I was myself obliged to lean on the back of a chair, for I felt my
legs trembling under me. Rolf, tender-hearted as ever, had withdrawn
to a corner of the room with tears in his eyes. The General, with
agony depicted on his face, sat in his chair wringing his hands,
and seemed unable