eyes looked into mine with a
sorrowful admiration, with a lingering regret, as if they were taking
their leave of me for a long while. "Don't forget me!" he whispered,
as he stood at the door, while I followed my aunt out. "Come to
Nettlegrove," I whispered back. His eyes dropped to the ground; he let
me go without a word more.

This, I declare solemnly, was all that passed at our visit. By some
unexpressed consent among us, no allusion whatever was made to Captain
Stanwick; not even his name was mentioned. I never knew that the two men
had met, just before we called on Mr. Varleigh. Nothing was said which
could suggest to me the slightest suspicion of any arrangement for
another meeting between them later in the day. Beyond the vague threats
which had escaped Captain Stanwick's lips--threats which I own I was
rash enough to despise--I had no warning whatever of the dreadful events
which happened at Maplesworth on the day after our return to Nettlegrove
Hall.

I can only add that I am ready to submit to any questions that may be
put to me. Pray don't think me a heartless woman. My worst fault was
ignorance. In those days, I knew nothing of the false pretenses under
which men hide what is selfish and savage in their natures from the
women whom it is their interest to deceive.

No. 2.--Julius Bender, fencing-master, testifies and says:--

I am of German nationality; established in England as teacher of the use
of the sword and the pistol since the beginning of the present year.

Finding business slack in London, it unfortunately occurred to me to try
what I could do in the country. I had heard of Maplesworth as a place
largely frequented by visitors on account of the scenery, as well as by
invalids in need of taking the waters; and I opened a gallery there at
the beginning of the season of 1817, for fencing and pistol practice.
About the visitors I had not been deceived; there were plenty of idle
young gentlemen among them who might have been expected to patronize my
establishment. They showed the most barbarous indifference to the
noble art of attack and defense--came by twos and threes, looked at
my gallery, and never returned. My small means began to fail me. After
paying my expenses, I was really at my wits' end to find a few pounds to
go on with, in the hope of better days.

One gentleman, I remember, who came to see me, and who behaved most
liberally.

He described himself as an American, and said he had tr