and irritable mood (having that night discovered the treachery of
the beautiful actress, which had long been known to every body else), when
a voice struck his ear which caused him to turn suddenly. He saw, near at
hand, a dignified and beautiful woman, who reminded him of some one he had
seen before. She turned away on perceiving him--it was Mary. She had
recognized her husband, and, scarcely able to stand, she took the arm of
her cousin, and reached the nearest seat. Her husband, forgetting every
thing else in his impatience to learn who it was who had thus startled
vague recollections, went hastily up to the Master of the Ceremonies, and
desired to be introduced to--his own wife!

By some fatality, the Master of the Ceremonies blundered, and gave the
name of Mary's cousin. This mistake gave Mary courage; for years she had
dreamed of such a meeting, and the fear of losing the opportunity nerved
her to profit by it. She exerted herself to please him. He had been rudely
disenchanted from the graces of fine ladies, and was in a humor to
appreciate the gentle home influence of Mary's manners; he was enchanted
with her, and begged to be allowed to follow up the acquaintance, and to
wait upon her the next morning. Permission was of course given, and he
handed Mary and her cousin to their chairs.

Mary was cruelly agitated; she had not suffered so much during the ten
preceding years; the suspense and anxiety were too terrible to endure; it
seemed as though morning would never come. Her husband was not much more
to be envied. He had discovered that she resembled the woman he had once
so much loved, and then so cruelly hated--whom he married, and deserted;
but though tormented by a thousand fancied resemblances, he scarcely dared
to hope that it could be she. The next day, long before the lawful hour
for paying morning visits, he was before her door and obtained admittance.
The resemblance by daylight was more striking than it had been on the
previous evening; and Mary's agitation was equal to his own. His impetuous
appeal was answered. Overwhelmed with shame and repentance, and at the
same time happy beyond expression, General Pollexfen passionately
entreated his wife's forgiveness. Mary not only won back her husband, but
regained, with a thousandfold intensity, the love which had once been
hers--regained it, never to lose it more!

The story soon became known, and created an immense sensation. They
quitted Bath, and retired