There was something very unaccountable in all this. I say unaccountable,

with the distinct understanding that it was unaccountable only to

that obtuse condition of mind which is produced by the demon of

the blind heart. My difficulties of judging were only temporary,

however. The sinister spirit made his whisper conclusive in the

end.

"This vehemence," it suggested, "which is so unwonted with her, is

evidently unnatural, It--is affected for an object. What is that

object? It is the ordinary one with persons in the wrong, who always

affect one extreme of feeling when they would conceal another. She

fears that you will suspect that she is very well satisfied in

your absence; accordingly she strives to convince you that she was

never so dissatisfied. Of course you can not believe that a man

so well endowed as Edgerton, so graceful, having such fine tastes

and accomplishments, can prove other than an agreeable companion!

What then should be your belief?"

There was a devilish ingenuity in this sort of perversion. It had its

effect. I believed it; and believing it, revolted, with a feeling

of hate and horror, at the supposed loathsome hypocrisy of that

fond embrace, and those earnest pleadings, which, in the moment

of their first display, had seemed so precious to my soul. In the

morning, when I was setting forth from home, she put her arm on my

shoulder:-"Come home soon. Edward, and let us go together on the hill. Let

nobody know. Surely we shall be company enough for each other. I

will sketch you a view of the river while you read Wordsworth to

me."

"Now," whispered my demon in my ears, "that is ingenious. Let nobody

know; as if, having a friend in the neighborhood--on a visit--he

sick and in bad spirits--you should propose to yourself a pleasure

trip of any kind without inviting him to partake of it? She knows

THAT to be out of the question, and that you must ask Edgerton if

you resolve to go yourself."

Such was the artful suggestion of my familiar. My resolve--still

recognising the cruel policy by which I had been so long governed--was

instantly taken. This was to invite Edgerton and Kingsley both.

"I will give them every opportunity. While Kingsley and myself ramble

together, well leave this devoted pair to their own cogitations,

taking care, however, to see what comes of them."

I promised Julia to be home in season, but said nothing of

my intention to ask the gentlemen. She thanked me with a look and

smile, which, had I not seen all things through eyes of the most

jaundiced green, would have seemed to me that of an angel, expressive

only of the truest love.

"Ah! could I but believe!" was the bitter self-murmur of my soul,

as I left the threshold.




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