countenance of that miserable debauchee; but there were chance traits
of manner that brought up the man to Winthrop's mind. There were also on
the scene his beautiful wife, at that time in the fulness of her beauty.
What a charm of gentleness, too, did she possess!--how meekly and
patiently did she bear herself under provocations that seemed too great
for human endurance! The doctor had to own that she actually forfeited
some of his sympathy by the impression she gave him of being one
deficient in a nice sense of self-esteem, and wanting in that element of
resistance without which there is no real dignity of nature. "She seemed
to me," said he, "too craven, too abject by half,--one of those who are
born to be the subject of a tyranny, and who, in their very submission,
appear to court the wanton cruelty of an 'oppressor'. How rightly I read
her!" cried he; "how truly I deciphered the inscription on her heart!
and yet, I'll be sworn, no man living could have detected under that
mask of gentleness this woman of long-pondering craft, this deeply
designing plotter!"

"Quackinboss and I saw her under another aspect," said Alfred. "She
was depressed and sad, but only so much so as gave an added charm to the
grace of her captivations, and made her every effort to please appear
somewhat of a sacrifice of herself for those around her."

"Well, ain't it strange, gentlemen," said Quackinboss, "but it's a fact,
she never deceived _me?_ I remember the day of our visit at Marlia;
after that adventure with the dog she fainted, and I took her up in
my arms and carried her to the house. I thought, by course, she was
insensible. Not a bit of it; she rallied enough to open her eyes, and
give me one of the most wonderful looks ever I see in my life. It was
just like saying, 'Shaver, are you quite certain that you have n't got
in your arms one of the loveliest creatures as ever was formed? Are you
sure, Shaver Quackinboss, that you are ever to have such another piece
of luck as this?' And so certain was I that I heerd these very words in
my ear, that I said aloud, 'Darn me pale blue if I don't wish the house
was half a mile away!' And the words wasn't well out than she burst out
a-laughin',--such a hearty, joyous laugh, too, that I knew in my heart
she had neither pain nor ache, and was only a-foxin'. Well, gentlemen,
we always had a way of lookin' at each other arter that was quite
peculiar; it was say in', 'Never fear, all's on honor he