ed
me as if I were her murderer."

"You did not intend, however, to go to Cuba?"

"No more than you intended to go."

"What took you to the steamer then?"

"Mr. Duval had some letters--foolish, imprudent letters--and I was
miserable about them; because whenever I did not meet him, or send him
money, he threatened to show them to Antony. He promised, as he was
going to Cuba, to give them to me for $500. I had only three days to
procure the money, and I did not succeed in getting it until noon of
the last day. Then I went to the Astor House, where Mr. Duval was
waiting for me, and because I wanted to keep him in a good temper, I
took lunch with him. He said he would give me the letters after lunch.
I did not take but two glasses of wine, yet they made me feel strange,
and when I was told that his luggage had all gone to the steamer, and
that I must go there for the letters, I could not help crying. When
Adriana spoke to me, I was begging for my letters, and he was urging
me to go to Cuba with him. He wanted my money, mamma, and I knew it.
He was cruel to me, and I had become afraid of him. While he was
talking, I was listening for the bell to warn people ashore, and I
should have fled at the first sound."

"He might have prevented you, Rose. My dear, what danger you were
in!"

"I thought of that. There were several passengers on deck, and the
captain was not far away. I would have thrown myself into the water
rather than have gone to Cuba with Mr. Duval."

"Did you get the letters?"

"No. Yanna came interfering, and then Antony. I let them think what
they liked. Duval said I intended to go with him. It was a lie, and he
knew it; but Yanna and Antony seemed to enjoy believing it, and so I
let them think me as wicked and cruel as they desired. Not one of you
took the trouble to ask me a question."

"We feared to wound your feelings, Rose, by alluding to what could not
be undone. And you were fretting so about your child."

"Not one of you noticed that I had taken no clothing, none of my
jewelry, not a single article necessary for comfort. Was it likely I
would leave all my dresses and jewels behind me? If Mr. Duval thought
I was going with him, was it likely he would have suffered me to
forget them?"

"Why did you not tell me all this before, Rose?"

"I do not know 'why,' mamma. I enjoyed seeing Antony miserable. I
enjoyed humbling Yanna's pride. I used to laugh at the thought of
Harry and her talking over