told him how I had been treated
by Noah, and described in exaggerated terms the reproof I had got from
his wife. Mr. Carlos pinched my cheek, and told me to dry my eyes, for
crying spoilt my beauty; and not to care for what Noah or my mistress
said to me; that he was my friend, and loved and respected me too much
to suffer me to be ill-used.

"I felt proud of my master's sympathy, and lost no opportunity to
increase it, and attract his attention. You may guess, my son, how all
this ended. My master conceived a violent passion for me, which I was
not slow in returning, and we carried on our intimacy with such
circumspection, that for two years it escaped the vigilant eyes of my
husband, and the fretful jealousy of my mistress. The fear of detection
made me very cautious in the presence of the injured parties. I appeared
more anxious to please my mistress, and more distant and respectful to
Mr. Carlos, while I bore with apparent patience and resignation the
ill-humour of my now detested husband. For the above-named period, both
were deceived, and it was during this season of crime and hypocrisy that
you, my son, were born. The startling resemblance you bore to your real
father did not escape my husband's observation, and called forth some of
his bitterest remarks.

"I, for my part, swore that the child was the image of him; and, in
order to lull his suspicions, conferred upon it the odious and hated
name of Noah.

"My mistress often visited my chamber during my confinement. Once, she
brought Mr. Carlos with her to see the baby. 'It is a beautiful little
cherub!' he cried, kissing it, with all his heart in his eyes, 'the
picture of Annie.'

"'You will laugh at me, Walter,' said my mistress gravely, 'but I think
the child is so like you!'

"She looked at him steadily in the face as she said this. I thought he
would have let the babe drop, he did so stammer and colour as he tried
to laugh her words off as a good joke. As to me, my face burnt like
fire, and I drew up the bed-clothes in order to conceal it. She looked
first at me, and then at Mr. Carlos. There needed no further witness of
our guilt. We were both convicted by conscience, yet boldly endeavoured
to affect indifference.

"'I see how it is,' she said, bursting into tears, 'you have both
cruelly wronged me. Yet, for this poor babe's sake, I pray God to
forgive you.'

"She kissed the infant with great tenderness (she never had one of her
own), laid it in t