u mean to say that he has had the _insolence_ to write to you," I
cry, in a passion of indignation, forgetting for the moment Barbara's
ignorance of what has occurred, and only reminded of it by the look of
wonder that, as I turn on my chair to face her, I see come into her
eyes.

"Have not you been expecting him every day to write to me?" she asks,
with a little wonder in her tone; "but _read_!" (pointing to the note,
and laughing with a touch of bitterness), "you will soon see that there
is no _insolence_ here."

I had quite as lief, in my present state of mind, touch a yard-long
wriggling ground-worm, or a fat wood-louse, as paper that his fingers
have pressed; but I overcome my repulsion, and unfold the note.

"DEAR MISS GREY:

"Can I do any thing for you in town? I am going up there to-morrow,
and shall thence, I think, run over to the Exhibition. I have no
doubt that it is just like all the others; but _not_ to have seen
it will set one at a disadvantage with one's fellows. I am afraid
that there is no chance of your being still at Tempest when I
return. I shall be most happy to undertake any commissions.

"Yours sincerely,

"F. MUSGRAVE"

The note drops from my fingers, rolls on to my lap, and thence to the
ground. I sit in stiff and stupid silence. To tell the truth, I am
trying strongly to imagine how I should look and what I should say, were
I as ignorant of causes as Barbara thinks me, and to look and speak
accordingly.

She kneels down beside me, and softly drawing down my face, till it is
on a level with hers, and our cheeks touch, says in a tone of gentle
entreaty and compassion, as if _I_ were the one to be considered--the
prime sufferer:

"Do not fret about it, Nancy! it is of no--no consequence!--there is no
harm done!"

I struggle to say _something_, but for the life of me I can frame no
words.

"It was my own fancy!" she says, faltering, "I suppose my vanity misled
me!"

"It is all my fault!" cry I, suddenly finding passionate words, starting
up, and beginning to walk feverishly to and fro--"_all!_--there never
was any one in all this world so blind, so ill-judging, so miserably
mistaken! If it had not been for me, you never would have thought twice
of him--never; and I"--(beginning to speak with weeping
indistinctness)--"I thought it would be so nice to have you near me--I
thought that there was nothing the matter with him, but his temper;