, interrogate herself as to its meaning, with a shudder,
indeed, but a shudder which came of fear as well as loathing. Life was
no longer an untried country, its difficulties and perils to be met with
the sole aid of a few instincts and a few maxims; she had sounded the
depths of misery and was invested with the woeful knowledge of what we
poor mortals call the facts of existence. And sitting here, as on the
desert bed of a river whose water had of a sudden ceased to flow, she
could regard her own relation to truths, however desolating, with the
mind which had rather brave all than any longer seek to deceive itself.

Of that which he imputed to her she was incapable; that such suspicion
of her could enter his mind branded him with baseness. But his jealousy
was justified; howsoever it had awakened in him, it was sustained by
truth. Was it her duty to tell him that, and so to render it impossible
for him to seek to detain her?

But would the confession have any such result? Did he not already
believe her criminal, and yet forbid her to leave him? On what terms did
she stand with a man whose thought was devoid of delicacy, who had again
and again proved himself without understanding of the principles of
honour? And could she indeed make an admission which would compel her at
the same time to guard against revolting misconceptions?

The question of how he had obtained this knowledge recurred to her. It
was evident that the spy had intentionally calumniated her, professing
to have heard her speak incriminating words. She thought of Rodman. He
had troubled her by his private request that she would appeal to Eldon
on Alice's behalf, a request which was almost an insult. Could he have
been led to make it in consequence of his being aware of that meeting
in the wood? That might well be; she distrusted him and believed him
capable even of a dastardly revenge.

What was the troublesome thought that hung darkly in her mind and would
not come to consciousness? She held it at last; Mutimer had said that he
met Hubert in the street below. How to explain that? Hubert so near to
her, perhaps still in the neighbourhood?

Again she shrank with fear. What might it mean, if he had really come in
hope of seeing her? That was unworthy of him. Had she betrayed herself
in her conversation with him? Then he was worse than cruel to her.

It seemed to her that hours passed. From time to time she heard a
movement in the next room; Mutimer was