st have a full confession--every
question that I put to you must be clearly and satisfactorily answered,
and so bring back the only comfort to yourself, and hope to me. Will you
do this, Ellen?"

"Oh that I could!" was the reply in such bitter anguish, Mrs. Hamilton
actually shuddered. "But I cannot--must not--dare not. Aunt Emmeline,
hate me; condemn me to the severest, sharpest suffering; I wish for it,
pine for it: you cannot loathe me more than I do myself, but do not--do
not speak to me in these kind tones--I cannot bear them. It was because
I knew what a wretch I am, that I have so shunned you. I was not worthy
to be with you; oh, sentence me at once! I dare not answer as you wish."

"Dare not!" repeated Mrs. Hamilton, more and more bewildered; and to
conceal the emotion Ellen's wild words and agonized manner had produced,
adopting a greater sternness.

"You dare commit a sin, from which the lowest of my household would
shrink in horror, and yet tell me you dare not make the only atonement,
give me the only proof of real penitence I demand. This is a weak and
wicked subterfuge, Ellen, and will not pass with me. There can be no
reason for this fearful obduracy, not even the consciousness of greater
guilt, for I promise forgiveness, if it be possible, on the sole
condition of a full confession. Once more, will you speak? Your
hardihood will be utterly useless, for you cannot hope to conquer me;
and if you permit me to leave you with your conduct still clothed in
this impenetrable mystery, you will compel me to adopt measures to
subdue that defying spirit, which will expose you and myself to intense
suffering, but which _must_ force submission at last."

"You cannot inflict more than I have endured the last seven weeks,"
murmured Ellen, almost inarticulately. "I have borne that; I can bear
the rest."

"Then you will not answer? You are resolved not to tell me the day on
which you found that money, the use to which it was applied, the reason
of your choosing that forbidden path, permitting me to believe you
guilty of heavier sins than may be the case in reality. Listen to me,
Ellen; it is more than time this interview should cease; but I will give
you one chance more. It is now half-past seven,"--she took the watch
from her neck, and laid it on the table--"I will remain here one-half
hour longer: by that time this sinful temper may have passed away, and
you will consent to give me the confession I demand. I canno