, Mr. Endicott," said Rose.

"And you do not now?"

"I cannot say that," she said, after a pause; "but, Mr. Endicott, if
we are friends, you must give me the liberty to speak plainly."

"That's exactly what I want you to do!" he said impetuously; "that is
just what I wish."

"Allow me to ask, then, if you are an early friend and family
connection of Mrs. John Seymour?"

"I was an early friend, and am somewhat of a family connection."

"That is, I understand there has been a ground in your past history
for you to be on a footing of a certain family intimacy with Mrs.
Seymour; in that case, Mr. Endicott, I think you ought to have
considered yourself the guardian of her honor and reputation, and not
allowed her to be compromised on your account."

The blood flushed into Harry's face; and he stood abashed and silent.
Rose went on,--

"I was shocked, I was astonished, last night, because I could not help
overhearing the most disagreeable, the most painful remarks on you and
her,--remarks most unjust, I am quite sure, but for which I fear you
have given too much reason!"

"Miss Ferguson," said Harry, stopping as he walked up and down, "I
confess I have been wrong and done wrong; but, if you knew all, you
might see how I have been led into it. That woman has been the evil
fate of my life. Years ago, when we were both young, I loved her as
honestly as man could love a woman; and she professed to love me in
return. But I was poor; and she would not marry me. She sent me off,
yet she would not let me forget her. She would always write to me just
enough to keep up hope and interest; and she knew for years that all
my object in striving for fortune was to win her. At last, when a
lucky stroke made me suddenly rich, and I came home to seek her, I
found her married,--married, as she owns, without love,--married for
wealth and ambition. I don't justify myself,--I don't pretend to; but
when she met me with her old smiles and her old charms, and told me
she loved me still, it roused the very devil in me. I wanted revenge.
I wanted to humble her, and make her suffer all she had made me; and I
didn't care what came of it."

Harry spoke, trembling with emotion; and Rose felt almost terrified
with the storm she had raised.

"O Mr. Endicott!" she said, "was this worthy of you? was there nothing
better, higher, more manly than this poor revenge? You men are
stronger than we: you have the world in your hands; you have a
thousand