you picture to
your mind a revenge more cruel, living on from day to day, and gathering
force from time?"

"But to me there is ever the hope that the past might come back again."

"Never--never!" said she, resolutely. "The man who has corrupted a
woman's heart may own as much of it as can feel love for him; but he who
has held up to shame the dishonor he has provoked must be satisfied with
her loathing and her hate."

"And you tell me that these are my portion?" said he, sternly.

"Your conscience can answer how you have earned them."

They walked along side by side in silence for some time, and at last
she said, "How much better, for both of us, to avoid words of passion or
remembrances of long ago."

"You loved me once, Loo," broke he in, with deep emotion.

"And if I once contracted a debt which I could not pay you now, would
you insult me for my poverty, or persecute me? I do not think so,
Ludlow."

"And when I have given them to you, Loo, and they are in your hands, how
are we to meet again? Are we to be as utter strangers to each other?"
said he, in deep agitation.

"Yes," replied she, "it is as such we must be. There is no hardship in
this; or, if there be, only what one feels in seeing the house he once
lived in occupied by another,--a passing pang, perhaps, but no more."

"How you are changed, Loo!" cried he.

"How silly would it be for the trees to burst out in bud with winter!
and the same folly were it for us not to change as life wears on. Our
spring is past, Ludlow."

"But I could bear all if you were not changed to me," cried he,
passionately.

"Far worse, again. I am changed to myself, so that I do not know
myself," said she.

"I know well how your heart reproaches me for all this, Loo," said he,
sorrowfully; "how you accuse me of being the great misfortune of your
life. Is it not so?"

"Who can answer this better than yourself?" cried she, bitterly.

"And yet, was it not the whole aim and object of my existence to be
otherwise? Did I not venture everything for your love?"

"If you would have me talk with you, speak no more of this. You have it
in your power to do me a great service, or work me a great injury; for
the first, I mean to be more than grateful; that is, I would pay all
I could command; for the last, your recompense must be in the hate you
bear me. Decide which path you will take, and let me face my future as
best I may."

"There is one other alternative, Loo, which yo