hilosopher, "of an action performed without any motive
whatever. I have always maintained the possibility of such actions."

As to Miriam, she went back to Cowfold without any self-accusation or
self-applause. She did not know that there was anything criminal or
generous in her attempt on behalf of Cutts. We may say in parting that
he was acquitted, to her great delight; and Mr. Cattle, with the pride
of a British citizen who has served on a jury and knows the law, did
not cease to preach to his wife, whenever the opportunity offered, that
you should never pronounce the verdict till you've heard the evidence.

Soon after Mr. Cutts's return to Cowfold Mr. Tacchi one day surprised
his household by telling them he meant to take another wife. Andrew
was silent, but Miriam at once flew into a violent passion, and thereby
greatly incensed her father. There was no cause for her anger. Mrs.
Brooks, whom Giacomo had chosen, was, as the second choice often is,
just the woman who was necessary to him. She was about forty, a good
manager, with an equable temper, a widow, with no children, not in the
least degree rigid, but, on the contrary, affectionate. She had seen
some trouble with her first husband, who was a little farmer and drank,
and consequently, although she was a churchwoman, had been driven to
the Bible, and had found much comfort therein. "Although she was a
churchwoman" may sound rather strange, but still it is a fact that in
those days in Cowfold the church people, and for that matter the
Dissenters too, did not read their Bibles; but amongst the Dissenters
there was here and there a remnant of the ancient type to whom the
Bible was everything. Amongst the church people there were very few or
none.

Why Miriam should be so wrathful with her father it is extremely
difficult to say. It is certain she did not object to her deposition
as housekeeper. She never cared for her duties as mistress. Perhaps
one reason was that she chose to resent the apparent displacement of
her own mother. She never knew her, and owed her nothing except her
birth; but she was _her_ mother, and she took sides with her, and
considered her insulted, and became her partisan with perfect fury.
Perhaps, too, Miriam was slightly jealous that her father, who was now
nearing his half century, should show himself not altogether dead to
love. She would have liked to find him insensible, leaving all love
affairs to his children, and she