in his
presence, no word or look ever betrayed that devotion, which
in his absence was so constantly displayed; and his visits
were so skilfully conducted, that Edward never suspected their
frequency or their length. To remain passive in such a system
of deception, and when practised with regard to Edward, was
sometimes more than I could do; and it occasionally happened
that, in a moment of irritation, I exposed him in some
artifice, or betrayed him in some scheme, in a way which
required all his presence of mind to meet, and his consummate
skill in dissimulation to carry off. After this had occurred,
he generally left me in anger; and the nervous feeling which
such an abrupt separation caused me--the means of revenge
which were constantly in his hands--the helpless ignorance in
which I remained--and, in truth, I must add, the way in which
I missed the excitement of his society--made me eagerly
welcome, and sometimes even seek, a renewal of intercourse.

One day that Henry called at the usual hour, and that Edward
happened to be at home, I saw that he was put out and annoyed
at the impossibility of speaking to me alone. He gave me
various hints that he had something important to say; and at
last, as he was standing behind Edward, he wrote on a bit of
paper, which he contrived to give me, the following words:
"Alice asks to have her grandmother with her during her
confinement; what can I do?" It had often occurred to me that
this would happen; and much as it complicated and aggravated
all my difficulties, I was not heartless enough to urge him to
refuse such a request, made at such a moment. I conveyed this
to him by a few words; and soon after he took his leave.

I did not see him again till two days afterwards, when he
joined us at the play. Mr. Escourt was in our box. Edward had
met him in the lobby, and had asked him to come in and renew
his acquaintance with me. I received him coldly but civilly.
My heart beat quickly each time that the door of the box
opened, at the idea of a meeting between him and Henry. I did
not know if they were on speaking terms; and after the
insolent manner in which he had alluded the year before to
Henry's devotion to me, I felt my cheeks flush as I thought of
what would pass through his mind, when he should see him take
his place by my side. When he did arrive, to my great
surprise, I saw them shake hands, and exchange a few words
with perfect civility.

How strange it is to those