d he, slowly, and in a tone which terrified
his child.

'Oh, I am sure she knew nothing about it, perfectly sure. I know she did
not wish Belle to go to Mrs. Caruthers's, because she could not go with
her; and even after Belle made the arrangement to stay all night, mamma
did not seem to be at all satisfied.'

Hiram was convinced, and the want of an object on which to wreak his
anger now served to exhaust it.

He leaned his face upon the side of his daughter's couch, and groaned.

Harriet put her hand gently upon his cheek. 'Papa,' she said, timidly,
'may I tell you what to do?'

Hiram raised his head. His face was very haggard, but he made no reply.

'Send for Belle to come back, and her husband too, and let us make them
happy,' said Harriet, almost abruptly.

'Never! My curse is on her! She is no longer my child--I disinherit
her!'

'Give her my portion, then--I shall not require it.'

Hiram started--a new idea had struck him. It was as if somehow he had
received a new accession of wealth by the surrender of Harriet's share.
A strange confusion of ideas, certainly; but the thought grew on him, as
we shall see by-and-by. Now, however, it gave place to the dominant
feeling.

Harriet, encouraged by his silence, broke in again: 'Won't you, papa?'
she whispered.

Hiram turned and looked at her angrily, but was compelled to lower his
countenance before his daughter's earnest, truthful, heavenly gaze.

He started up and went back to the parlor. He began to feel ashamed of
his violence toward his wife, and was anxious to dispose of the matter
as soon as possible.

To return to Arabella.

As soon as her husband had left her, she proceeded to read the note he
placed in her hands. That accomplished, she took the precaution to ring
the bell several times with great energy; and, having disposed of the
little articles which lay scattered on the floor, she threw herself on
the sofa, in violent hysterics.

When Hiram entered, these were at once renewed. Her husband understood
this phase of her constitution; and, directing the maid servants to
remove their mistress to her own room, he ordered dinner to be served.

I will do him the justice to say he ate little or nothing.

Two or three times the waiter observed that his master put his hand to
his head and then to his heart, as if endeavoring to tranquillize
himself.

After dinner, he mounted his horse, and rode several miles. When he
returned, one would not hav