only for one absorbing end. Sophy was not then in danger; and even my suspicions as to her birth died away. Pass on;—Guy Darrell! Ah, Lady Montfort! his life has been imbittered like mine; but he was man, and could bear it better. He has known, himself, the misery of broken faith, of betrayed affection, which he could pity so little when its blight fell on me; but you have excuse for desertion—you yourself were deceived; and I pardon him, for he pardoned Jasper, and we are fellow-sufferers. You weep! Pardon my rudeness. I did not mean to pain you. Try and listen calmly—I must hurry on. On leaving Mr. Darrell I crossed to France. I saw the nurse; I have ascertained the truth; here are the proofs in this packet. I came back—I saw Jasper Losely. He was on the eve of seeking you, whom he had already so wronged—of claiming the child, or rather of extorting money for the renunciation of a claim to one whom you had adopted. I told him how vainly he had hitherto sought to fly from me. One by one I recited the guilty schemes in which I had baffled his purpose—all the dangers from which I had rescued his life. I commanded him to forbear the project he had then commenced. I told him I would frustrate that project as I had frustrated others. Alas, alas! why is this tongue so harsh?—why does this face so belie the idea of human kindness? I did but enrage and madden him; he felt but the reckless impulse to destroy the life that then stood between himself and the objects to which he had pledged his own self-destruction. I thought I should die by his hand. I did not quail. Ah! the ghastly change that came over his face—that one glance of amaze and superstitious horror; his arm obeyed him not; his strength, his limbs forsook him; he fell at my feet—one side of him stricken dead! Hist! that is his voice—pardon me;" and Arabella flitted from the room, leaving the door ajar.
A feeble voice, like the treble of an infirm old man, came painfully to Caroline's ear.
"I want to turn; help me. Why am I left alone? It is cruel to leave me so—cruel!"
In the softest tones to which that harsh voice could be tuned, the grim woman apologized and soothed.
"You gave me leave, Jasper dear. You said it would be a relief to you to have her pardon as well as theirs."
"Whose pardon?" asked the Voice, querulously.
"Caroline Lyndsay's—Lady Montfort's."
"Nonsense! What did I ever do against her? Oh—ah! I remember now. Don't let me have it over again. Yes—she
