tory
of the present days. He described to her how he had loved Julia
Brabazon, and how his love had been treated by her; how he had sworn to
himself, when he knew that she had in truth become that lord's wife,
that for her sake he would keep himself from loving any other woman.
Then he spoke of his first days at Stratton and of his early
acquaintance with Florence, and told her how different had been his
second love--how it had grown gradually and with no check to his
confidence, till he felt sure that the sweet girl who was so often near
him would, if he could win her, be to him a source of joy for all his
life. "And so she shall," said Cecilia, with tears running down her
cheeks; "she shall do so yet." And he went on with his tale, saying how
pleasant it had been for him to find himself at home in Onslow Crescent;
how he had joyed in calling her Cecilia, and having her infants in his
arms, as though they were already partly belonging to him. And he told
her how he had met the young widow at the station, having employed
himself on her behalf at her sister's instance; and how cold she had
been to him, offending him by her silence and sombre pride. "False
woman!" exclaimed Mrs. Burton. "Oh, Cecilia, do not abuse her--do not
say a word till you know all." "I know that she is false," said Mrs.
Burton, with vehement indignation. "She is not false," said Harry; "if
there be falsehood, it is mine." Then he went on, and said how different
she was when next he saw her. How then he understood that her solemn and
haughty manner had been almost forced on her by the mode of her return,
with no other friend to meet her. "She has deserved no friend," said
Mrs. Burton. "You wrong her." said Harry; "you do not know her. If any
woman has been ever sinned against, it is she." "But was she not false
from the very first--false, that she might become rich by marrying a man
that she did not love? Will you speak up for her after that? Oh, Harry,
think of it."

"I will speak up for her," said Harry; and now it seemed for the first
time that something of his old boldness had returned to him. "I will
speak up for her, although she did as you say, because she has suffered
as few women have been made to suffer, and because she has repented in
ashes as few women are called on to repent." And now as he warmed with
his feeling for her, he uttered his words faster and with less of shame
in his voice. He described how he had gone again and again to Bol