u, for old kindness past; but I shall not sleep under
this roof now. God bless you, and give you many happy days yet with this
gentleman you are going to marry. Farewell."

She was actually going; but Grace caught her by the arm. "No, no, you
shall not leave me so."

"Ay, but I will." And Jael's eyes, so mild in general, began to sparkle
with anger, at being detained against her will; but, generous to the
last, she made no use of her great strength to get clear from Grace.

"You will not go, if you are the woman you were. I believe your words,
I believe your honest face, I implore your forgiveness. I am the most
miserable creature in this world. Pray do not abandon me."

This appeal, made with piteous gestures and streaming eyes, overpowered
Jael Dence, and soon they were seated, rocking together, and Grace
pouring out her heart.

Jael then learned, to her dismay, that Grace's belief in Henry's
falsehood was a main cause of this sudden marriage. Had she believed her
Henry true, she would have mourned him, as a widow, two years at least.

The unhappy young lady lamented her precipitation, and the idea of
marrying Mr. Coventry to-morrow became odious to her. She asked Jael
wildly whether she should not be justified in putting an end to her
life.

Jael consoled her all she could; and, at her request, slept in the same
bed with her. Indeed she was afraid to leave her; for she was wild at
times, and said she would prefer to be married to that dead hand people
said was at the Town hall, and then thrown into one grave with it.
"That's the bridal I long for," said she.

In the morning she was calmer, and told Jael she thought she was doing
right.

"I shall be neither more nor less wretched for marrying this poor man,"
said she: "and I shall make two people happy; two people that deserve
the sacrifice I make."

So, after all, the victim went calmly.

Early in the morning came a letter from Dr. Fynes. He was confined by
gout, and sorry to say the ceremony he had hoped to perform must be done
by his curate.

Now this curate was quite a stranger to Grace, and indeed to most people
in Hillsborough. Dr. Fynes himself knew nothing about him except that he
had come in answer to his inquiry for a curate, had brought good letters
of recommendation, and had shown himself acquainted with the learned
doctor's notes to Apollonius Rhodius; on which several grounds the
doctor, who was himself a better scholar than a priest, had