such as yours from her, and mine from him, ended
the marriage."

"I can't say more without speaking against her, and I don't want
to do that," said he. "Yet I must tell you one thing, which would
settle the matter in any case. She has married another man--really
married him! I knew nothing about it till after the visit we made
here."

"Married another? ... It is a crime--as the world treats it, but
does not believe."

"There--now you are yourself again. Yes, it is a crime--as you don't
hold, but would fearfully concede. But I shall never inform against
her! And it is evidently a prick of conscience in her that has led
her to urge me to get a divorce, that she may remarry this man
legally. So you perceive I shall not be likely to see her again."

"And you didn't really know anything of this when you saw her?" said
Sue more gently, as she rose.

"I did not. Considering all things, I don't think you ought to be
angry, darling!"

"I am not. But I shan't go to the Temperance Hotel!"

He laughed. "Never mind!" he said. "So that I am near you, I am
comparatively happy. It is more than this earthly wretch called Me
deserves--you spirit, you disembodied creature, you dear, sweet,
tantalizing phantom--hardly flesh at all; so that when I put my arms
round you I almost expect them to pass through you as through air!
Forgive me for being gross, as you call it! Remember that our
calling cousins when really strangers was a snare. The enmity of our
parents gave a piquancy to you in my eyes that was intenser even than
the novelty of ordinary new acquaintance."

"Say those pretty lines, then, from Shelley's 'Epipsychidion' as if
they meant me!" she solicited, slanting up closer to him as they
stood. "Don't you know them?"

"I know hardly any poetry," he replied mournfully.

"Don't you? These are some of them:

There was a Being whom my spirit oft
Met on its visioned wanderings far aloft.

* * * * *

A seraph of Heaven, too gentle to be human,
Veiling beneath that radiant form of woman...

Oh it is too flattering, so I won't go on! But say it's me! Say
it's me!"

"It is you, dear; exactly like you!"

"Now I forgive you! And you shall kiss me just once there--not very
long." She put the tip of her finger gingerly to her cheek; and he
did as commanded. "You do care for me very much, don't you, in spite
of my not--you know?"

"Yes, sweet!" he said with a s