eceived in a character which I deemed worthy of
my love, while it was only the more black because it was hypocritical."

"Virginia," said Hansford, with desperation, "you shall not talk thus;
you shall not think thus of me."

"As my captor and jailer," returned the brave hearted young maiden, "Mr.
Hansford may, probably, by force, control the expression of my
opinions--but thank God! not even you can control my thoughts. The mind,
at least, is free, though the body be enslaved."

"Nay, do not mistake my meaning, dear Virginia," said her lover. "But
alas! I am the victim of misconstruction. Could you, for a moment,
believe that I was capable of an act which you have justly described as
unmanly and unchivalrous?"

"What other opinion can I have?" said Virginia. "I find you acting with
those who are guilty of an act as cowardly as it is cruel. I find you
tacitly acquiescing in their measures, and aiding in guarding and
conducting their unhappy captives--and I received from you a message in
which you pretend to say that you can justify that which is at once
inexcusable before heaven, and in the court of man's honour. Forgive me,
if I am unable to separate the innocent from the guilty, and if I fail
to see that your conduct is more noble in this attempt to shift the
consequences of your crime upon your confederates."

"Now, by Heaven, you wrong me!" returned Hansford. "My message to you
was mistaken by Captain Wilford. I never said I could justify your
capture; I charged him to tell you I could justify myself. And as for my
being found with those who have committed this unmanly act, as well
might you be deemed a participator in their actions now, because of your
presence here. I remonstrated, I protested against such a course--and
when at last adopted I denounced it as unworthy of men, and far more
unworthy of soldiers and freemen."

"And yet, when overwhelmed by the voices of others, you quietly
acquiesce, and remain in companionship with those whose conduct you had
denounced."

"What else could I do?" urged Hansford. "My feeble arm could not resist
the action of two hundred-men; and it only remained for me to continue
here, that I might secure the safety and kind treatment of those who
were the victims of this rude violence. Alas! how little did I think
that so soon you would be one of those unhappy victims, and that my
heart would deplore, for its own sake, a course from which my judgment
and better nature already