s Austin, who had seen him return, and
could not imagine the cause, went in to her husband.

"What is the matter, my dear?" said Mrs Austin.

"Matter!" replied Austin, bitterly, pacing up and down the room; "heaven
and hell conspire against us!"

"Dear Austin, don't talk in that way. What has happened?"

"Something which will compel me, I expect, to remain a prisoner in my
own house, or lead to something unpleasant. We must not stay here."

Austin then threw himself down on the sofa, and was silent. At last the
persuasions and endearments of his wife overcame his humour. He told
her that McShane was the major of his regiment when he was a private;
that he would inevitably recognise him; and that, if nothing else
occurred from McShane's knowledge of his former name, at all events, the
general supposition of his having been an officer in the army would be
contradicted, and it would lower him in the estimation of the county
gentlemen.

"It is indeed a very annoying circumstance, my dear Austin; but are you
sure that he would, after so long a period, recognise the private
soldier in the gentleman of fortune?"

"As sure as I sit here," replied Austin, gloomily; "I wish I were dead."

"Don't say so, dear Austin, it makes me miserable."

"I never am otherwise," replied Austin, clasping his hands. "God
forgive me! I have sinned, but have I not been punished?"

"You have, indeed; and as repentance is availing, my dear husband, you
will receive God's mercy."

"The greatest boon, the greatest mercy, would be death," replied the
unhappy man; "I envy the pedlar." Mrs Austin wept. Her husband,
irritated at tears which, to him, seemed to imply reproach, sternly
ordered her to leave the room.

That Austin repented bitterly of the crime which he had committed is not
to be doubted; but it was not with the subdued soul of a Christian. His
pride was continually struggling within him, and was not yet conquered;
this it was that made him alternately self-condemning and irascible, and
it was the continual warfare in his soul which was undermining his
constitution.

Austin sent for medical advice for his supposed complaint. The country
practitioner, who could discover nothing, pronounced it to be an
affection of the heart. He was not far wrong; and Mr Austin's illness
was generally promulgated. Cards and calls were the consequence, and
Austin kept himself a close but impatient prisoner in his own house.
His hunters