ved in
the East, thought it looked like a very rare kind of Persian work. We
examined with interest the letter, and the fine linen. When Michael
quietly remarked, as we handed them back to him, "They keep the secret,
you see," we could only look at each other, and own there was nothing
more to be said.

VII.

THAT night, lying awake thinking, I made my first discovery of a great
change that had come over me. I felt like a new woman.

Never yet had my life been so enjoyable to me as it was now. I was
conscious of a delicious lightness of heart. The simplest things pleased
me; I was ready to be kind to everybody, and to admire everything. Even
the familiar scenery of my rides in the park developed beauties which
I had never noticed before. The enchantments of music affected me to
tears. I was absolutely in love with my dogs and my birds--and, as for
my maid, I bewildered the girl with presents, and gave her holidays
almost before she could ask for them. In a bodily sense, I felt an
extraordinary accession of strength and activity. I romped with the dear
old General, and actually kissed Lady Claudia, one morning, instead
of letting her kiss me as usual. My friends noticed my new outburst of
gayety and spirit--and wondered what had produced it. I can honestly say
that I wondered too! Only on that wakeful night which followed our visit
to Michael's room did I arrive at something like a clear understanding
of myself. The next morning completed the process of enlightenment. I
went out riding as usual. The instant when Michael put his hand under
my foot as I sprang into the saddle, his touch flew all over me like a
flame. I knew who had made a new woman of me from that moment.

As to describing the first sense of confusion that overwhelmed me, even
if I were a practiced writer I should be incapable of doing it. I pulled
down my veil, and rode on in a sort of trance. Fortunately for me, our
house looked on the park, and I had only to cross the road. Otherwise I
should have met with some accident if I had ridden through the streets.
To this day, I don't know where I rode. The horse went his own way
quietly--and the groom followed me.

The groom! Is there any human creature so free from the hateful and
anti-Christian pride of rank as a woman who loves with all her heart and
soul, for the first time in her life? I only tell the truth (in however
unfavorable a light it may place me) when I declare that my confusion
was entirel