CHAPTERI。

THEBRIDE’SMISTAKE。

"FORafterthismannerintheoldtimetheholywomenalsowhotrustedinGodadornedthemselves，beinginsubjectionuntotheirownhusbands；evenasSarahobeyedAbraham，callinghimlord；

whosedaughtersyeareaslongasyedowell，andarenotafraidwithanyamazement。"

ConcludingtheMarriageServiceoftheChurchofEnglandinthosewell—knownwords，myuncleStarkweathershutuphisbook，andlookedatmeacrossthealtarrailswithaheartyexpressionofinterestonhisbroad，redface。Atthesametimemyaunt，Mrs。

Starkweather，standingbymyside，tappedmesmartlyontheshoulder，andsaid，"Valeria，youaremarried！"

Whereweremythoughts？Whathadbecomeofmyattention？Iwastoobewilderedtoknow。Istartedandlookedatmynewhusband。

HeseemedtobealmostasmuchbewilderedasIwas。Thesamethoughthad，asIbelieve，occurredtousbothatthesamemoment。Wasitreallypossible——inspiteofhismother’soppositiontoourmarriage——thatwewereManandWife？MyauntStarkweathersettledthequestionbyasecondtaponmyshoulder。

"Takehisarm！"shewhispered，inthetoneofawomanwhohadlostallpatiencewithme。

Itookhisarm。

"Followyouruncle。"

Holdingfastbymyhusband’sarm，Ifollowedmyuncleandthecuratewhohadassistedhimatthemarriage。

Thetwoclergymenledusintothevestry。ThechurchwasinoneofthedrearyquartersofLondon，situatedbetweentheCityandtheWestEnd；thedaywasdull；theatmospherewasheavyanddamp。Wewereamelancholylittleweddingparty，worthyofthedrearyneighborhoodandthedullday。Norelativesorfriendsofmyhusband’swerepresent；hisfamily，asIhavealreadyhinted，disapprovedofhismarriage。Exceptmyuncleandmyaunt，nootherrelationsappearedonmyside。Ihadlostbothmyparents，andIhadbutfewfriends。Mydearfather’sfaithfuloldclerk，Benjamin，attendedtheweddingto"givemeaway，"asthephraseis。Hehadknownmefromachild，and，inmyforlornposition，hewasasgoodasafathertome。

Thelastceremonylefttobeperformedwas，asusual，thesigningofthemarriageregister。Intheconfusionofthemoment（andintheabsenceofanyinformationtoguideme）Icommittedamistake——ominous，inmyauntStarkweather’sopinion，ofeviltocome。Isignedmymarriedinsteadofmymaidenname。

"What！"criedmyuncle，inhisloudestandcheeriesttones，"youhaveforgottenyourownnamealready？Well，well！letushopeyouwillneverrepentpartingwithitsoreadily。Tryagain，Valeria——tryagain。"

WithtremblingfingersIstruckthepenthroughmyfirsteffort，andwrotemymaidenname，verybadlyindeed，asfollows：

ValeriaBrintonWhenitcametomyhusband’sturnInoticed，withsurprise，thathishandtrembledtoo，andthatheproducedaverypoorspecimenofhiscustomarysignature：

EustaceWoodvilleMyaunt，onbeingrequestedtosign，compliedunderprotest。"A

badbeginning！"shesaid，pointingtomyfirstunfortunatesignaturewiththefeatherendofherpen。"Ihope，mydear，youmaynotlivetoregretit。"

Eventhen，inthedaysofmyignoranceandmyinnocence，thatcuriousoutbreakofmyaunt’ssuperstitionproducedacertainuneasysensationinmymind。Itwasaconsolationtometofeelthereassuringpressureofmyhusband’shand。Itwasanindescribablerelieftohearmyuncle’sheartyvoicewishingmeahappylifeatparting。Thegoodmanhadlefthisnorth—countryVicarage（myhomesincethedeathofmyparents）expresslytoreadtheserviceatmymarriage；andheandmyaunthadarrangedtoreturnbythemid—daytrain。Hefoldedmeinhisgreatstrongarms，andhegavemeakisswhichmustcertainlyhavebeenheardbytheidlerswaitingforthebrideandbridegroomoutsidethechurchdoor。

"Iwishyouhealthandhappiness，mylove，withallmyheart。Youareoldenoughtochooseforyourself，and——nooffense，Mr。

Woodville，youandIarenewfriends——andIprayGod，Valeria，itmayturnoutthatyouhavechosenwell。Ourhousewillbedrearyenoughwithoutyou；butIdon’tcomplain，mydear。Onthecontrary，ifthischangeinyourlifemakesyouhappier，I

rejoice。Come，come！don’tcry，oryouwillsetyourauntoff——andit’snojokeathertimeoflife。Besides，cryingwillspoilyourbeauty。Dryyoureyesandlookintheglassthere，andyouwillseethatIamright。Good—by，child——andGodblessyou！"

Hetuckedmyauntunderhisarm，andhurriedout。Myheartsankalittle，dearlyasIlovedmyhusband，whenIhadseenthelastofthetruefriendandprotectorofmymaidendays。

ThepartingwitholdBenjamincamenext。"Iwishyouwell，mydear；don’tforgetme，"wasallhesaid。Buttheolddaysathomecamebackonmeatthosefewwords。BenjaminalwaysdinedwithusonSundaysinmyfather’stime，andalwaysbroughtsomelittlepresentwithhimforhismaster’schild。Iwasverynearto"spoilingmybeauty"（asmyunclehadputit）whenIofferedtheoldmanmycheektokiss，andheardhimsightohimself，asifhetoowerenotquitehopefulaboutmyfuturelife。

Myhusband’svoicerousedme，andturnedmymindtohappierthoughts。

"Shallwego，Valeria？"heasked。

Istoppedhimonourwayouttotakeadvantageofmyuncle’sadvice；inotherwords，toseehowIlookedintheglassoverthevestryfireplace。

Whatdoestheglassshowme？

Theglassshowsatallandslenderyoungwomanofthree—and—twentyyearsofage。Sheisnotatallthesortofpersonwhoattractsattentioninthestreet，seeingthatshefailstoexhibitthepopularyellowhairandthepopularpaintedcheeks。Herhairisblack；dressed，intheselaterdays（asitwasdressedyearssincetopleaseherfather），inbroadripplesdrawnbackfromtheforehead，andgatheredintoasimpleknotbehind（likethehairoftheVenusdeMedicis），soastoshowtheneckbeneath。Hercomplexionispale：exceptinmomentsofviolentagitationthereisnocolortobeseeninherface。Hereyesareofsodarkabluethattheyaregenerallymistakenforblack。Hereyebrowsarewellenoughinform，buttheyaretoodarkandtoostronglymarked。Hernosejustinclinestowardtheaquilinebend，andisconsideredalittletoolargebypersonsdifficulttopleaseinthematterofnoses。Themouth，herbestfeature，isverydelicatelyshaped，andiscapableofpresentinggreatvarietiesofexpression。Astothefaceingeneral，itistoonarrowandtoolongatthelowerpart，toobroadandtoolowinthehigherregionsoftheeyesandthehead。Thewholepicture，asreflectedintheglass，representsawomanofsomeelegance，rathertoopale，andrathertoosedateandseriousinhermomentsofsilenceandrepose——inshort，apersonwhofailstostriketheordinaryobserveratfirstsight，butwhogainsingeneralestimationonasecond，andsometimesonathirdview。Asforherdress，itstudiouslyconceals，insteadofproclaiming，thatshehasbeenmarriedthatmorning。Shewearsagraycashmeretunictrimmedwithgraysilk，andhavingaskirtofthesamematerialandcolorbeneathit。Onherheadisabonnettomatch，relievedbyaquillingofwhitemuslinwithonedeepredrose，asamorselofpositivecolor，tocompletetheeffectofthewholedress。

HaveIsucceededorfailedindescribingthepictureofmyselfwhichIseeintheglass？Itisnotformetosay。Ihavedonemybesttokeepclearofthetwovanities——thevanityofdepreciatingandthevanityofpraisingmyownpersonalappearance。Fortherest，wellwrittenorbadlywritten，thankHeavenitisdone！

AndwhomdoIseeintheglassstandingbymyside？

IseeamanwhoisnotquitesotallasIam，andwhohasthemisfortuneoflookingolderthanhisyears。Hisforeheadisprematurelybald。Hisbigchestnut—coloredbeardandhislongoverhangingmustacheareprematurelystreakedwithgray。Hehasthecolorinthefacewhichmyfacewants，andthefirmnessinhisfigurewhichmyfigurewants。Helooksatmewiththetenderestandgentlesteyes（ofalightbrown）thatIeversawinthecountenanceofaman。Hissmileisrareandsweet；hismanner，perfectlyquietandretiring，hasyetalatentpersuasivenessinitwhichis（towomen）irresistiblywinning。Hejusthaltsalittleinhiswalk，fromtheeffectofaninjuryreceivedinpastyears，whenhewasasoldierservinginIndia，andhecarriesathickbamboocane，withacuriouscrutchhandle（anoldfavorite），tohelphimselfalongwheneverhegetsonhisfeet，indoorsorout。Withthisonelittledrawback（ifitisadrawback），thereisnothinginfirmoroldorawkwardabouthim；

hisslightlimpwhenhewalkshas（perhapstomypartialeyes）acertainquaintgraceofitsown，whichispleasantertoseethantheunrestrainedactivityofothermen。Andlastandbestofall，Ilovehim！Ilovehim！Ilovehim！Andthereisanendofmyportraitofmyhusbandonourwedding—day。

TheglasshastoldmeallIwanttoknow。Weleavethevestryatlast。

Thesky，cloudysincethemorning，hasdarkenedwhilewehavebeeninthechurch，andtherainisbeginningtofallheavily。

Theidlersoutsidestareatusgrimlyundertheirumbrellasaswepassthroughtheirranksandhastenintoourcarriage。Nocheering；nosunshine；noflowersstrewninourpath；nograndbreakfast；nogenialspeeches；nobridesmaids；nofathersormother’sblessing。Adrearywedding——thereisnodenyingit——and（ifAuntStarkweatherisright）abadbeginningaswell！

A_coup_hasbeenreservedforusattherailwaystation。Theattentiveporter，onthelook—outforhisfeepullsdowntheblindsoverthesidewindowsofthecarriage，andshutsoutallpryingeyesinthatway。Afterwhatseemstobeaninterminabledelaythetrainstarts。Myhusbandwindshisarmroundme。"Atlast！"hewhispers，withloveinhiseyesthatnowordscanutter，andpressesmetohimgently。Myarmstealsroundhisneck；myeyesanswerhiseyes。Ourlipsmeetinthefirstlong，lingeringkissofourmarriedlife。

Oh，whatrecollectionsofthatjourneyriseinmeasIwrite！Letmedrymyeyes，andshutupmypaperfortheday。

CHAPTERII。

THEBRIDE’STHOUGHTS。

WEhadbeentravelingforalittlemorethananhourwhenachangepassedinsensiblyoverusboth。

Stillsittingclosetogether，withmyhandinhis，withmyheadonhisshoulder，littlebylittlewefellinsensiblyintosilence。Hadwealreadyexhaustedthenarrowyeteloquentvocabularyoflove？Orhadwedeterminedbyunexpressedconsent，afterenjoyingtheluxuryofpassionthatspeaks，totrythedeeperandfinerraptureofpassionthatthinks？Icanhardlydetermine；Ionlyknowthatatimecamewhen，undersomestrangeinfluence，ourlipswereclosedtowardeachother。Wetraveledalong，eachofusabsorbedinourownreverie。Washethinkingexclusivelyofme——asIwasthinkingexclusivelyofhim？Beforethejourney’sendIhadmydoubts；atalittlelatertimeIknewforcertainthathisthoughts，wanderingfarawayfromhisyoungwife，wereallturnedinwardonhisownunhappyself。

Formethesecretpleasureoffillingmymindwithhim，whileI

felthimbymyside，wasaluxuryinitself。

Ipicturedinmythoughtsourfirstmeetingintheneighborhoodofmyuncle’shouse。

Ourfamousnorth—countrytroutstreamwounditsflashingandfoamingwaythrougharavineintherockymoorland。Itwasawindy，shadowyevening。Aheavilycloudedsunsetlaylowandredinthewest。Asolitaryanglerstoodcastinghisflyataturninthestreamwherethebackwaterlaystillanddeepunderanoverhangingbank。Agirl（myself）standingonthebank，invisibletothefishermanbeneath，waitedeagerlytoseethetroutrise。

Themomentcame；thefishtookthefly。

Sometimesonthelittlelevelstripofsandatthefootofthebank，sometimes（whenthestreamturnedagain）intheshallowerwaterrushingoveritsrockybed，theanglerfollowedthecapturedtrout，nowlettingthelinerunoutandnowwindingitinagain，inthedifficultanddelicateprocessof"playing"thefish。AlongthebankIfollowedtowatchthecontestofskillandcunningbetweenthemanandthetrout。IhadlivedlongenoughwithmyuncleStarkweathertocatchsomeofhisenthusiasmforfieldsports，andtolearnsomething，especially，oftheangler’sart。Stillfollowingthestranger，withmyeyesintentlyfixedoneverymovementofhisrodandline，andwithnotsomuchasachancefragmentofmyattentiontosparefortheroughpathalongwhichIwaswalking，Isteppedbychanceonthelooseoverhangingearthattheedgeofthebank，andfellintothestreaminaninstant。

Thedistancewastrifling，thewaterwasshallow，thebedoftheriverwas（fortunatelyforme）ofsand。BeyondthefrightandthewettingIhadnothingtocomplainof。InafewmomentsIwasoutofthewaterandupagain，verymuchashamedofmyself，onthefirmground。Shortastheintervalwas，itprovedlongenoughtofavortheescapeofthefish。Theanglerhadheardmyfirstinstinctivecryofalarm，hadturned，andhadthrownasidehisrodtohelpme。Weconfrontedeachotherforthefirsttime，Ionthebankandheintheshallowwaterbelow。Oureyesencountered，andIverilybelieveourheartsencounteredatthesamemoment。

ThisIknowforcertain，weforgotourbreedingasladyandgentleman：welookedateachotherinbarbaroussilence。

Iwasthefirsttorecovermyself。WhatdidIsaytohim？

Isaidsomethingaboutmynotbeinghurt，andthensomethingmore，urginghimtorunbackandtryifhemightnotyetrecoverthefish。

Hewentbackunwillingly。Hereturnedtome——ofcoursewithoutthefish。Knowinghowbitterlydisappointedmyunclewouldhavebeeninhisplace，Iapologizedveryearnestly。Inmyeagernesstomakeatonement，Ievenofferedtoshowhimaspotwherehemighttryagain，lowerdownthestream。

Hewouldnothearofit；heentreatedmetogohomeandchangemywetdress。Icarednothingforthewetting，butIobeyedhimwithoutknowingwhy。

Hewalkedwithme。MywaybacktotheVicaragewashiswaybacktotheinn。Hehadcometoourparts，hetoldme，forthequietandretirementasmuchasforthefishing。Hehadnoticedmeonceortwicefromthewindowofhisroomattheinn。HeaskedifI

werenotthevicar’sdaughter。

Isethimright。Itoldhimthatthevicarhadmarriedmymother’ssister，andthatthetwohadbeenfatherandmothertomesincethedeathofmyparents。HeaskedifhemightventuretocallonDoctorStarkweatherthenextday，mentioningthenameofafriendofhis，withwhomhebelievedthevicartobeacquainted。Iinvitedhimtovisitus，asifithadbeenmyhouse；Iwasspell—boundunderhiseyesandunderhisvoice。I

hadfancied，honestlyfancied，myselftohavebeeninloveoftenandoftenbeforethistime。Neverinanyotherman’scompanyhadIfeltasInowfeltinthepresenceof_this_man。Nightseemedtofallsuddenlyovertheeveninglandscapewhenheleftme。I

leanedagainsttheVicaragegate。Icouldnotbreathe，Icouldnotthink；myheartflutteredasifitwouldflyoutofmybosom——andallthisforastranger！Iburnedwithshame；butoh，inspiteofitall，Iwassohappy！

Andnow，whenlittlemorethanafewweekshadpassedsincethatfirstmeeting，Ihadhimbymyside；hewasmineforlife！I

liftedmyheadfromhisbosomtolookathim。Iwaslikeachildwithanewtoy——Iwantedtomakesurethathewasreallymyown。

Henevernoticedtheaction；henevermovedinhiscornerofthecarriage。Washedeepinhisownthoughts？andweretheythoughtsofMe？

Ilaiddownmyheadagainsoftly，soasnottodisturbhim。Mythoughtswanderedbackwardoncemore，andshowedmeanotherpictureinthegoldengalleryofthepast。

ThegardenattheVicarageformedthenewscene。Thetimewasnight。Wehadmettogetherinsecret。Wewerewalkingslowlytoandfro，outofsightofthehouse，nowintheshadowypathsoftheshrubbery，nowinthelovelymoonlightontheopenlawn。

Wehadlongsinceownedourloveanddevotedourlivestoeachother。Alreadyourinterestswereone；alreadywesharedthepleasuresandthepainsoflife。Ihadgoneouttomeethimthatnightwithaheavyheart，toseekcomfortinhispresenceandtofindencouragementinhisvoice。HenoticedthatIsighedwhenhefirsttookmeinhisarms，andhegentlyturnedmyheadtowardthemoonlighttoreadmytroubleinmyface。Howoftenhehadreadmyhappinessthereintheearlierdaysofourlove！

"Youbringbadnews，myangel，"hesaid，liftingmyhairtenderlyfrommyforeheadashespoke。"Iseethelinesherewhichtellmeofanxietyanddistress。IalmostwishIlovedyoulessdearly，Valeria。"

"Why？"

"Imightgiveyoubackyourfreedom。Ihaveonlytoleavethisplace，andyourunclewouldbesatisfied，andyouwouldberelievedfromallthecaresthatarepressingonyounow。"

"Don’tspeakofit，Eustace！Ifyouwantmetoforgetmycares，sayyoulovememoredearlythanever。"

Hesaiditinakiss。Wehadamomentofexquisiteforgetfulnessofthehardwaysoflife——amomentofdeliciousabsorptionineachother。Icamebacktorealitiesfortifiedandcomposed，rewardedforallthatIhadgonethrough，readytogothroughitalloveragainforanotherkiss。Onlygiveawomanlove，andthereisnothingshewillnotventure，suffer，anddo。

"No，theyhavedonewithobjecting。TheyhaverememberedatlastthatIamofage，andthatIcanchooseformyself。Theyhavebeenpleadingwithme，Eustace，togiveyouup。Myaunt，whomI

thoughtratherahardwoman，hasbeencrying——forthefirsttimeinmyexperienceofher。Myuncle，alwayskindandgoodtome，hasbeenkinderandbetterthanever。HehastoldmethatifI

persistinbecomingyourwife，Ishallnotbedesertedonmywedding—day。Whereverwemaymarry，hewillbetheretoreadtheservice，andmyauntwillgotothechurchwithme。ButheentreatsmetoconsiderseriouslywhatIamdoing——toconsenttoaseparationfromyouforatime——toconsultotherpeopleonmypositiontowardyou，ifIamnotsatisfiedwithhisopinion。Oh，mydarling，theyareasanxioustopartusasifyouweretheworstinsteadofthebestofmen！"

"Hasanythinghappenedsinceyesterdaytoincreasetheirdistrustofme？"heasked。

"Yes，"

"Whatisit？"

"Yourememberreferringmyuncletoafriendofyoursandofhis？"

"Yes。ToMajorFitz—David。"

"MyunclehaswrittentoMajorFitz—David"

"Why？"

Hepronouncedthatonewordinatonesoutterlyunlikehisnaturaltonethathisvoicesoundedquitestrangetome。

"Youwon’tbeangry，Eustace，ifItellyou？"Isaid。"Myuncle，asIunderstoodhim，hadseveralmotivesforwritingtothemajor。Oneofthemwastoinquireifheknewyourmother’saddress。"

Eustacesuddenlystoodstill。

Ipausedatthesamemoment，feelingthatIcouldventurenofurtherwithouttheriskofoffendinghim。

Tospeakthetruth，hisconduct，whenhefirstmentionedourengagementtomyuncle，hadbeen（sofarasappearanceswent）alittleflightyandstrange。Thevicarhadnaturallyquestionedhimabouthisfamily。Hehadansweredthathisfatherwasdead；

andhehadconsented，thoughnotveryreadily，toannouncehiscontemplatedmarriagetohismother。Informingusthatshetoolivedinthecountry，hehadgonetoseeher，withoutmoreparticularlymentioningheraddress。IntwodayshehadreturnedtotheVicaragewithaverystartlingmessage。Hismotherintendednodisrespecttomeormyrelatives，butshedisapprovedsoabsolutelyofherson’smarriagethatshe（andthemembersofherfamily，whoallagreedwithher）wouldrefusetobepresentattheceremony，ifMr。WoodvillepersistedinkeepinghisengagementwithDr。Starkweather’sniece。Beingaskedtoexplainthisextraordinarycommunication，Eustacehadtoldusthathismotherandhissisterswerebentonhismarryinganotherlady，andthattheywerebitterlymortifiedanddisappointedbyhischoosingastrangertothefamily。Thisexplanationwasenoughforme；itimplied，sofarasIwasconcerned，acomplimenttomysuperiorinfluenceoverEustace，whichawomanalwaysreceiveswithpleasure。Butitfailedtosatisfymyuncleandmyaunt。ThevicarexpressedtoMr。Woodvilleawishtowritetohismother，ortoseeher，onthesubjectofherstrangemessage。Eustaceobstinatelydeclinedtomentionhismother’saddress，onthegroundthatthevicar’sinterferencewouldbeutterlyuseless。Myuncleatoncedrewtheconclusionthatthemysteryabouttheaddressindicatedsomethingwrong。HerefusedtofavorMr。

Woodville’srenewedproposalformyhand，andhewrotethesamedaytomakeinquiriesofMr。Woodville’sreferenceandofhisownfriendMajorFitz—David。

Undersuchcircumstancesasthese，tospeakofmyuncle’smotiveswastoventureonverydelicateground。EustacerelievedmefromfurtherembarrassmentbyaskingaquestiontowhichIcouldeasilyreply。

"HasyourunclereceivedanyanswerfromMajorFitz—David？"heinquired。

"Yes。

"Wereyouallowedtoreadit？"Hisvoicesankashesaidthosewords；hisfacebetrayedasuddenanxietywhichitpainedmetosee。

"Ihavegottheanswerwithmetoshowyou，"Isaid。

Healmostsnatchedtheletteroutofmyhand；heturnedhisbackonmetoreaditbythelightofthemoon。Theletterwasshortenoughtobesoonread。Icouldhaverepeateditatthetime。I

canrepeatitnow。

"DEARVICAR——Mr。EustaceWoodvilleisquitecorrectinstatingtoyouthatheisagentlemanbybirthandposition，andthatheinherits（underhisdeceasedfather’swill）anindependentfortuneoftwothousandayear。

"Alwaysyours，"LAWRENCEFITZ—DAVID。"

"Cananybodywishforaplaineranswerthanthat？"Eustaceasked，handingtheletterbacktome。

"If_I_hadwrittenforinformationaboutyou，"Ianswered，"itwouldhavebeenplainenoughforme。"

"Isitnotplainenoughforyouruncle？"

"No。"

"Whatdoeshesay？"

"Whyneedyoucaretoknow，mydarling？"

"Iwanttoknow，Valeria。Theremustbenosecretbetweenusinthismatter。Didyourunclesayanythingwhenheshowedyouthemajor’sletter？"

"Yes。"

"Whatwasit？"

"Myuncletoldmethathisletterofinquiryfilledthreepages，andhebademeobservethatthemajor’sanswercontainedonesentenceonly。Hesaid，’IvolunteeredtogotoMajorFitz—Davidandtalkthematterover。Youseehetakesnonoticeofmyproposal。IaskedhimfortheaddressofMr。Woodville’smother。

Hepassesovermyrequest，ashehaspassedovermyproposal——hestudiouslyconfineshimselftotheshortestpossiblestatementofbarefacts。Useyourcommon—sense，Valeria。Isn’tthisrudenessratherremarkableonthepartofamanwhoisagentlemanbybirthandbreeding，andwhoisalsoafriendofmine？’"

Eustacestoppedmethere。

"Didyouansweryouruncle’squestion？"heasked。

"No，"Ireplied。"IonlysaidthatIdidnotunderstandthemajor’sconduct。"

"Andwhatdidyourunclesaynext？Ifyouloveme，Valeria，tellmethetruth。"

"Heusedverystronglanguage，Eustace。Heisanoldman；youmustnotbeoffendedwithhim。"

"Iamnotoffended。Whatdidhesay？"

"Hesaid，’Markmywords！ThereissomethingunderthesurfaceinconnectionwithMr。Woodville，orwithhisfamily，towhichMajorFitz—Davidisnotatlibertytoallude。Properlyinterpreted，Valeria，thatletterisawarning。ShowittoMr。Woodville，andtellhim（ifyoulike）whatIhavejusttoldyou——’"

Eustacestoppedmeagain。

"Youaresureyourunclesaidthosewords？"heasked，scanningmyfaceattentivelyinthemoonlight。

"Quitesure。ButIdon’tsaywhatmyunclesays。Praydon’tthinkthat！"

Hesuddenlypressedmetohisbosom，andfixedhiseyesonmine。

Hislookfrightenedme。

"Good—by，Valeria！"hesaid。"Tryandthinkkindlyofme，mydarling，whenyouaremarriedtosomehappierman。"

Heattemptedtoleaveme。Iclungtohiminanagonyofterrorthatshookmefromheadtofoot。

"Whatdoyoumean？"Iasked，assoonasIcouldspeak。"Iamyoursandyoursonly。WhathaveIsaid，whathaveIdone，todeservethosedreadfulwords？"

"Wemustpart，myangel，"heanswered，sadly。"Thefaultisnoneofyours；themisfortuneisallmine。MyValeria！howcanyoumarryamanwhoisanobjectofsuspiciontoyournearestanddearestfriends？Ihaveledadrearylife。Ihaveneverfoundinanyotherwomanthesympathywithme，thesweetcomfortandcompanionship，thatIfindinyou。Oh，itishardtoloseyou！itishardtogobackagaintomyunfriendedlife！Imustmakethesacrifice，love，foryoursake。Iknownomorewhythatletteriswhatitisthanyoudo。Willyourunclebelieveme？willyourfriendsbelieveme？Onelastkiss，Valeria！Forgivemeforhavinglovedyou——passionately，devotedlylovedyou。Forgiveme——andletmego！"