t. Depend upon it, it is as I told you.'

"I did not hear the Major's reply, but I did what the Colonel said.

"`It's all the better; the marriage will not be legal, and I can bring
the parents to my own terms.'

"All doubt was now at an end. He had married me convinced, and still
convinced that I was Caroline Stanhope, and not Adele Chabot, and he had
married me supposing that I was an heiress. My blood ran cold, and in a
few seconds I was senseless, and should have fallen under the table had
they not perceived that I was sinking, and ran to my support. The
arrival of the clergyman with the water recovered me. My husband
whispered to me that it was time to go, and that a carriage was at the
door. I do not recollect how I left the church; the motion of the
carriage first roused me up, and a flood of tears came to my relief.
How strange is it, Valerie, that we should be _so_ courageous and such
cowards at the same time. Would you believe when I had collected
myself, with a certain knowledge that my husband had deceived himself--a
full conviction of the danger of my position when he found out his
mistake, and that my future happiness was at stake--I felt glad that the
deed was done, and would not have been unmarried again for the universe.
As I became more composed, I felt that it was time to act. I wiped
away my tears and said, as I smiled upon my husband, who held my hand in
his, `I know that I have behaved very ill, and very foolishly, but I was
so taken by surprise.'

"`Do you think that I love you the less for showing so much feeling, my
dearest?' he replied, `no, no, it only makes you still more dear to me,
as it convinces me what a sacrifice you have made for my sake.'

"Now, Valerie, could there be a prettier speech, or one so apparently
sincere, from a newly-married man to his bride, and yet recollect what
he said to his friend not a quarter of an hour before, about having my
parents in his power by the marriage not being legal? I really am
inclined to believe that we have two souls, a good and an evil one,
continually striving for the mastery; one for this world, and the other
for the next, and that the evil one will permit the good one to have its
influence, provided that at the same time it has its own or an equal
share in the direction of us. For instance, I believe the colonel was
sincere in what he said, and really does love me, supposing me to be
Caroline Stanhope, with the mundane advantages