n, and, understood by the loud and measured manner in
which he struck his cane upon the pavement, that he was far from sharing
my humble, penitent mood, I ceased to waste upon him a compassion which
he seemed so little to require or deserve; and, pitying myself only, I
looked upon his stern face with a soul which cherished for him no other
sentiment than that of unmitigated hatred. Do not shrink from me,
Gertrude, as you read this frank confession of my passionate and deeply
stirred nature. You know not, perhaps, what it is to hate; but have you
ever been tried as I was?

"As Mr. Graham turned the corner of the street, I approached his house,
drew forth a pass-key of my own, by means of which I opened the door,
and went in. It was perfectly quiet, and no person was to be seen in any
of the lower rooms. I passed noiselessly upstairs, and entered a little
chamber at the head of the passage which communicated with Emily's room.
I waited here a long time, hearing no sound and seeing no one. But
fearing that Mr. Graham would shortly return, I determined to ascend to
my own room, collect my money and a few articles of value, and then make
my way to the kitchen, and gain what news I could of Emily from Mrs.
Prime, the cook, a kind-hearted woman, who would, I felt sure, befriend
me.

"The first part of my object was accomplished; and I had descended the
back staircase to gain Mrs. Prime's premises, when I suddenly met Mrs.
Ellis coming from the kitchen, with a bowl of gruel in her hand. She was
acquainted with all the particulars of the accident, and had been a
witness to my expulsion from the house. She stopped short on seeing me,
gave a slight scream, dropped the bowl of gruel, and prepared to make
her escape, as if from a wild beast, which I doubt not that I resembled;
since wretchedness, fasting, suffering, and desperation must all have
been depicted in my features. I placed myself in her path, and compelled
her to stop and listen to me. But before my eager questions could find
utterance, an outburst from her confirmed my worst fears.

"'Let me go!' she exclaimed. 'You villain! you will be putting my eyes
out next!'

'Where is Emily?' I cried. 'Let me see her!'

"'See her!' replied she. 'You horrid wretch! No! she has suffered enough
from you. She is satisfied herself now.'

'What do you mean?' shouted I, shaking the housekeeper violently by the
shoulder, for her words seared my very soul, and I was frantic.

"'I me