ust learn that it is an honorable wife whom she has called a vile
creature; the mistress of the house whom she turned out of doors, and
finally that it is Mrs. Herman Brudenell whom she has threatened with a
constable!" Hannah had spoken with such vehemence and rapidity that Nora
had found no opportunity to stop her. She could not, to use a common
phrase, "get in a word edgeways." It was only now when Hannah paused for
breath that Nora took up the discourse with:

"Hannah! Hannah! Hannah! how you do go on! Tell Herman Brudenell about
his own mother's treatment of me, indeed! I will never forgive you if
you do, Hannah! Do you think it will be such a pleasant thing for him
to hear? Consider how much it would hurt him, and perhaps estrange him
from his mother too! And what! shall I do anything, or consent to
anything, to set my husband against his own mother? Never, Hannah! I
would rather remain forever in my present obscurity. Besides, consider,
she was not so much to blame for her treatment of me! You know she never
imagined such a thing as that her son had actually married me, and--"

"I should have told her!" interrupted Hannah vehemently. "I should not
have borne her evil charges for one moment in silence! I should have
soon let her know who and what I was! I should have taken possession of
my rightful place then and there! I should have rung a bell and sent for
Mr. Herman Brudenell and had it out with the old lady once for all!"

"Hannah, I could not! my tongue was tied by my promise, and besides--"

"It was not tied!" again dashed in the elder sister, whose unusual
vehemence of mood seemed to require her to do all the talking herself.
"Herman Brudenell--he is a generous fellow with all his
faults!--released both you and myself from our promise, and told us at
any time when we should feel that the marriage ought not any longer to
be kept secret it might be divulged. You should have told her!"

"What! and raised a storm there between mother and son when both those
high spirits would have become so inflamed that they would have said
things to each other that neither could ever forgive? What! cause a
rupture between them that never could be closed? No, indeed, Hannah!
Burned and shriveled up as I was with shame in the glare of that lady's
scornful look, I would not save myself at such a cost to him and--to
her. For though you mayn't believe me, Hannah, I love that lady! I do in
spite of her scorn! She is my husband's