n the lost one regain the Eden of her
innocence. The world may pity, may pardon, but never more _respect;_ and,
oh, how dreadful to mingle with the pure, and feel the mark of Cain upon
your brow!...

"A change came suddenly upon Gilbert. There was no longer the lavish
expenditure, the careless profusion: his looks and tone were altered. A
haggard expression sat upon his handsome features, and the words of
endearment no longer flowed from his lips; a quick footstep beneath the
window made him start, strange-looking men visited him, his absences were
long, his garments often changed: the vail was about to be lifted from my
_real_ position.

"One night he entered hastily, snatched me from the luxurious fauteuil on
which I rested, and led me, without answering my questions, to a
hackney-coach. We were speedily whirled away, and I never again beheld
that home of splendor. By by-paths we entered a close and murky street,
the coach was discharged, I was hurried over a dark miry road, and,
passing through a court-yard, the gate of which closed behind us, was led
without ceremony into a wretched apartment, thronged with fierce,
ill-looking men, seated round a table well supplied with wines and ardent
spirits. Our entrance was hailed with shouts. Gilbert was called by the
name of 'noble captain' to the head of the table, and I was suffered
disregarded to weep alone. I seated myself at length by the blazing fire,
and then first knew the real horrors of my destiny.

"From their discourse I gathered that Gilbert had committed extensive
forgeries, and had that night escaped the pursuit of justice. Bumpers of
congratulation were drunk; plans of robberies discussed, and the gipsy
captain chosen as the leader of the most daring exploits contemplated.

"Since that night, how fearful have been my vicissitudes! Sometimes, as
the splendidly-dressed mistress of private gambling-rooms, I have received
the selected dupes in a luxurious boudoir, decoying the victims by
fascinating smiles into the snare laid for them by Gilbert and his
associates. Sometimes, encamping with the wild gipsy tribe in some hidden
dell or woodland haunt, where their varied spoils were in safe keeping.
Anon, the painted and tinseled queen of an itinerant show, where Gilbert
enacted the mountebank, and by the brilliance of his fascinating eloquence
drew into his treasury the hard-earned savings of the rustic gazers.

"To all those degredations have I submitted, and