"Indeed! Well, if you are not, I can only say you're not so

keen-sighted a lawyer as I thought you were. That's all."

"If you think I would have made out better, got more practice, and

made more money in Alabama, that, I must tell you, has been long

since my own opinion."

"No! I don't mean that--it has no regard to business and

money-making--what I mean."

"Ah! what can it have regard to? You make me curious, Mrs. Delaney."

"Well, that may be; but I'm not going to satisfy your curiosity.

I thought you had seen enough for yourself. I'm sure you're the

only one that has not seen."

"Upon my soul, Mrs. Delaney, you are quite a mystery."

"Oh! am I?"

"I can't dive into such depths. I'm ignorant."

"Tell those that know you no better. But you can't blind me. I

know that you know--and more than that, I can guess what's carrying

you to Alabama. It's not law business, I know that."

I was vexed enough, as may be supposed, at this malicious pertinacity,

but I kept down my struggling gorge with a resolution which I had

been compelled often enough to exercise before; and quietly ended

the interview by taking my hat and departure, as I said:-"You are certainly a very sagacious lady, Mrs. Delaney; but

I must leave you, and wait your own time to make these mysterious

revelations. My respects to Mr. Delaney. Good morning."

"Oh, good morning; but let me tell you, Mr. Clifford, if you don't

see, it's not because you can't. Other people can see without

trying."

The Jezabel!

My preparations were soon completed. I worked with the spirit of

enthusiasm--I had so many motives to be active; and, subordinate

among these, but still important, I should get out of the reach

of this very woman. I could not beat her myself but I wished her

husband might do it, and not to anticipate my own story, he did

so in less than three months after. He was the man too, to perform

such a labor with unction and emphasis. A vigorous man with muscles

like bolt-ropes, and limbs that would have been respectable in the

days of Goliah. I met him on leaving the steps of Mrs. Delaney's

lodgings, and--thinking of the marital office I wished him to

perform--I was rejoiced to discover that he was generously drunk--in

the proper spirit for such deeds in the flesh.

He seized my hand with quite a burst of enthusiasm, swore I was a

likely fellow, and somehow he had a liking for me.

"Though, to be sure, my dear fellow, it's not Mrs. Delaney that

loves any bone in your skin. She's a lady that, like most of the

dear creatures, has a way of her own for thinking. She does her own

thinking, and what can a woman know about such a business. It's

to please her that I sit by and say nothing; and a wife must be

permitted some indulgence while the moon lasts, which the poets

tell us, is made out of honey: but it's never a long moon in these

days, and a small cloud soon puts an end to it. Wait till that

time, Mr. Clifford, and I'll put her into a way of thinking, that'll

please you and myself much better."




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