t and wrong
lost.

His appreciation of Marian wavered with his moods.

When very angry he would mentally denounce her as a cold, prudent,
calculating woman, who had entrapped him into a secret marriage, and
having secured his hand, would now risk nothing for his love, and
himself as a weak, fond fool, the tool of the beautiful, proud diplomat,
whom it would be justifiable to circumvent, to defeat, and to humble in
some way.

At such times he felt a desire, amounting to a strong temptation, to
abduct her--to get her into his power, and make her feel that power. No
law could protect her or punish him--for they were married.

But here was the extreme point at which reaction generally commenced,
for Thurston could not contemplate himself in that character--playing
such a part, for an instant.

And then when a furtive glance would show him Marian's angel face,
fairer and paler and more pensive than ever before--a strong
counter-current of love and admiration approaching to worship, would set
in, and he would look upon her as a fair saint worthy of translation to
heaven, and upon himself as a designing but foiled conspirator, scarcely
one degree above the most atrocious villain. "Currents and
counter-currents" of stormy passion, where is the pilot that shall guide
the understanding safely through them? It is no wonder, that once in a
while, a mind is wrecked.

Marian, sitting in her pew, saw nothing in his face or manner to
indicate that inward storm. She only saw the sullen, freezing exterior.
Even in his softened moods of penitence, Thurston dared not seek her
society.

For Marian had begun to recover from the first abject prostration of her
sorrow, and her fair, resolute brow and sad, firm lips mutely assured
him that she never would consent to be his own until their marriage
could be proclaimed.

And he durst not trust himself in her tempting presence, lest there
should be a renewal of those humiliating scenes he had endured.

Thus passing a greater portion of the summer; during which Thurston
gradually dropped off from the church, and from all other haunts where
he was likely to encounter Marian, and as gradually began to frequent
the Catholic chapel, and to visit Luckenough, and to throw himself as
much as possible into the distracting company of the pretty elf
Jacquelina. But this--while it threw Dr. Grimshaw almost into frenzy,
did not help Thurston to forget the good and beautiful Marian. Indeed,
by cont