As with downcast eyes and shrinking form Nora followed her conductor

through the central passage and past the dining-room door, she once more

saw Herman Brudenell still sitting with his friends at the table.

"Ah, if he did but know what I have had to bear within the last few

minutes!" she said to herself as she hurried by.

When she re-entered the kitchen she drew the shawl closer around her

shivering figure, pulled the bonnet farther over her blushing face, and

silently took the arm of Hannah to return home.

The elder sister asked no question. And when they had left the house

their walk was as silent as their departure had been. It required all

their attention to hold their course through the darkness of the night,

the intensity of the cold and the fury of the wind. It was not until

they had reached the shelter of their poor hut, drawn the fire-brands

together and sat down before the cheerful blaze, that Nora threw herself

sobbing into the arms of her sister.

Hannah gathered her child closer to her heart and caressed her in

silence until her fit of sobbing had exhausted itself, and then she

inquired: "What did Mrs. Brudenell want with you, dear?"

"Oh, Hannah, she had heard of Herman's visits here! She questioned and

cross-questioned me. I would not admit anything, but then I could not

deny anything either. I could give her no satisfaction, because you know

my tongue was tied by my promise. Then, she suspected me of being a bad

girl. And she cross-questioned me more severely than ever. Still I could

give her no satisfaction. And her suspicions seemed to be confirmed. And

she looked at me--oh! with such terrible eyes, that they seemed to burn

me up. I know, not only my poor face, but the very tips of my ears

seemed on fire. And suddenly she snatched my shawl off me, and oh! if

her look was terrible before, it was consuming now! Hannah, I seemed to

shrivel all up in the glare of that look, like some poor worm in the

flame!" gasped Nora, with a spasmodic catch of her breath, as she once

more clung to the neck of her sister.

"What next?" curtly inquired Hannah.

"She rang the bell and ordered Jovial to 'put this vile creature

(meaning me) out'; and if ever I dared to show my face on the premises

again, to send for a constable to take me up."

"The insolent woman!" exclaimed the elder sister, with a burst of very

natural indignation. "She will have you taken up by a constable if ever

you show your face there again, will he? We'll see that! I shall tell

Herman Brudenell all about it to-morrow as soon as he comes! He must not

wait until his another goes to Washington! He must acknowledge you as

his wife immediately. To-morrow morning he must take you up and

introduce you as such to his mother. If there is to be an explosion, let

it come! The lady must be taught to know who it is that she has branded

with ill names, driven from the house and threatened with a constable!

She must learn that it is an honorable wife whom she has called a vile

creature; the mistress of the house whom she turned out of doors, and

finally that it is Mrs. Herman Brudenell whom she has threatened with a

constable!" Hannah had spoken with such vehemence and rapidity that Nora

had found no opportunity to stop her. She could not, to use a common

phrase, "get in a word edgeways." It was only now when Hannah paused for

breath that Nora took up the discourse with: "Hannah! Hannah! Hannah! how you do go on! Tell Herman Brudenell about

his own mother's treatment of me, indeed! I will never forgive you if

you do, Hannah! Do you think it will be such a pleasant thing for him

to hear? Consider how much it would hurt him, and perhaps estrange him

from his mother too! And what! shall I do anything, or consent to

anything, to set my husband against his own mother? Never, Hannah! I

would rather remain forever in my present obscurity. Besides, consider,

she was not so much to blame for her treatment of me! You know she never

imagined such a thing as that her son had actually married me, and--"




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