ate, as
strict in life and morals,--what was to become of her? How could he tell
her she was not his wife? how reveal to her her own calamity, and his
treason? And, on the other hand, desert her without a word! and leave
her hoping, fearing, pining, all her life! Affection, humanity,
gratitude, alike forbade it.

He came down in the morning, pale for him, and worn with the inward
struggle.

Naturally there was a restraint between him and Mrs. Gaunt; and only
short sentences passed between them.

He saw the peacemaker off, and then wandered all over the premises, and
the past came nearer, and the present seemed to retire into the
background.

He wandered about like one in a dream; and was so self-absorbed, that he
did not see Mrs. Gaunt coming towards him, with observant eyes.

She met him full; he started like a guilty thing.

"Are you afraid of me?" said she, sweetly.

"No, my dear, not exactly; and yet I am: afraid, or ashamed, or both."

"You need not. I said I forgive you; and you know I am not one that does
things by halves."

"You are an angel!" said he, warmly; "but" (suddenly relapsing into
despondency) "we shall never be happy together again."

She sighed. "Say not so. Time and sweet recollections may heal even this
wound by degrees."

"God grant it," said he, despairingly.

"And, though we can't be lovers again all at once, we may be friends.
To begin, tell me, what have you on your mind? Come, make a friend of
me."

He looked at her in alarm.

She smiled. "Shall I guess?" said she.

"You will never guess," said he; "and I shall never have the heart to
tell you."

"Let me try. Well, I think you have run in debt, and are afraid to ask
me for the money."

Griffith was greatly relieved by this conjecture; he drew a long breath;
and, after a pause, said cunningly, "What made you think that?"

"Because you came here for money, and not for happiness. You told me so
in the Grove."

"That is true. What a sordid wretch you must think me!"

"No, because you were under a delusion. But I do believe you are just
the man to turn reckless, when you thought me false, and go drinking and
dicing." She added eagerly, "I do not suspect you of anything worse."

He assured her that was not the way of it.

"Then tell me the way of it. You must not think, because I pester you
not with questions, I have no curiosity. O, how often I have longed to
be a bird, and watch you day and night unseen! How would yo