ward Middleton,
but never communicated its contents beyond the mere facts that
he was well, and was staying in this or that town on the
Continent.

Henry still remained at Elmsley; and nothing was changed in
the state of things between us. The only new feature in our
domestic affairs, was the growing dislike which my uncle
seemed to feel towards him. He had never appeared much to like
him, but now he seemed hardly able to endure his protracted
residence at Elmsley, and often inquired of my aunt and
myself, if Henry did not mean soon to begin the study of the
law; which was the profession he was destined to pursue.

As to Henry himself, he never alluded to it, and seemed to
look upon Elmsley as a permanent home. My uncle was too much
attached to his wife, and by nature of too kind a disposition,
to mark more plainly, than by occasional hints, his
displeasure at this line of conduct; but he could hardly
conceal his satisfaction, when, at last, a letter from his
father obliged Henry to take the subject into consideration.

It became arranged that he should leave Elmsley in three
weeks; and I was surprised, and even mortified, at observing
how little he seemed grieved or annoyed at this rather abrupt
separation, and with what indifference of manner he took leave
of me on the day of his departure.

A few days afterwards, there arrived a letter from Mrs.
Brandon, a sister of my mother and of Mr. Middleton,
containing an urgent request that I might be allowed to spend
a few weeks with her in Dorsetshire.

I had only seen this aunt of mine once or twice during the
course of my childhood; and she had left no other impression
on my mind than that she was a short, pretty-looking woman,
with large dark eyes, and a peculiarly gentle voice.

I had dreaded so much the void which Henry's absence would
have made in my life, that I welcomed with pleasure the idea
of entering upon a new scene. I had also a vague indefinite
hope that far from Elmsley--away from the material objects
which recalled to me continually my fatal secret--I should,
perhaps, shake off, in some degree, the sense of oppression
that weighed upon me. I was only seventeen, and prematurely
miserable as I was become, still there remained something in
me of the spirit of youth, which pants after new scenes, new
companions, and new excitements. I therefore expressed a
strong wish to accept Mrs. Brandon's invitation, and this was,
as usual, enough to secure Mrs.