hich it behoved him so often to ask for himself? This
was the question which Bertram was now forced to put to himself. And
that other question, which he could now answer but in one way. Had he
then been the cause of his own shipwreck? Had he driven his own bark
on the rocks while the open channel was there clear before him? Had
she not now assured him of her love, though no word of tenderness had
passed her lips? And whose doing had it been? Yes, certainly; it had
been his own doing.

The conviction which thus came upon him did not add much to his
comfort. There was but little consolation to him now in the assurance
that she had loved, and did love him. He had hitherto felt himself
to be an injured man; but now he had to feel that he himself had
committed the injury. "Whose doing has it been? You--you in your
pride, could forgive nothing!" These words rang in his ears; his
memory repeated to him hourly the tone in which they had been spoken.
She had accused him of destroying all her hopes for this world--and
he had answered not a word to the accusation.

On the morning after that ball at Mrs. Madden's, Sir Henry came into
his wife's room while she was still dressing. "By-the-by," said he,
"I saw you at Mrs. Madden's last night."

"Yes; I perceived that you were there for a moment," Caroline
answered.

"You were dancing. I don't know that I ever saw you dancing before."

"I have not done so since I was married. In former days I used to be
fond of it."

"Ah, yes; when you were at Littlebath. It did not much matter then
what you did in that way; but--"

"Does it matter more now, Sir Henry?"

"Well, if it would entail no great regret, I would rather that you
did not dance. It is all very nice for girls."

"You do not mean to say that married women--"

"I do not mean to say anything of the kind. One man has one idea, and
another another. Some women also are not placed in so conspicuous a
position as you are."

"Why did you not tell me your wishes before?"

"It did not occur to me. I did not think it probable that you would
dance. May I understand that you will give it up?"

"As you direct me to do so, of course I shall."

"Direct! I do not direct, I only request."

"It is the same thing, exactly. I will not dance again. I should have
felt the prohibition less had I been aware of your wishes before I
had offended."

"Well, if you choose to take it in that light, I cannot help it.
Good-morning. I shall no