scenes. "You can have no respect for me, and
none for yourself," said the little woman,
trembling, "to say such things." She was about to
add, "if you only knew;" but she was checked,
for she felt that she dare not even hint at
Romaine's behaviour. "You never speak to me
kindly; you never take me anywhere; you never
encourage, never protect me, as I see other
husbands treat their wives. No, but you are too
cold, and care for nothing in the wide world
but for yourself. As Mr. Romaine says"—and she
was about to quote that speech of his about
"fatal mistakes," but she stopped in alarm.

"Go on," said he, with forced calmness;
"pray tell us what Mr. Romaine says. So it is
come to this," he said, with a new burst. "But
it serves me right. They warned me in time,
but I foolishly would not listen."

With quivering lip Mrs. Fermor retorted—
she was very quick of temper, it must be
repeated—"And I was warned too. But I should
like to know who has gained most by the affair.
I tell you, you will not dispose of me as you did
of others. My heart shall not be broken, nor shall
I wear myself into the grave to suit your plans."

"No fear, indeed," said he, with a trembling
voice. "She was an angel, a gentle, quiet, sweet,
angel. God forgive me for that crime, it was
the great mistake of my life. I did not know
what I was doing. I must have been mad."

"And you speak of it in this way to me,"
said Mrs. Fermor, beside her little wits, from
grief, and wounded vanity, and rage; "why not
tell me, next, that you married me for papa's
money. Go on and finish; we may as well hear it
all out now!"

"Suppose I say I did," replied he, unable to
resist the taunt; it was now a battle à outrance.
"Suppose I say that I did. It was what they
called a good match. It is not the first thing of
the kind that has been done! It was an
unfortunate day for me, God knows! I might
have been happy and peaceful now—in my proper
station in society which I have lost, instead of
being—Confusion!" he added, in a fresh
burst, as he thought of all his wrongs and
insults: "I have been a fool and a madman!
But I tell you I shall see to all this, and it
shall be changed. They shan't point to me as a
cypher, nor shall any of the rude low admirers
you choose to encourage make me their butt.
Never!" he added, vehemently. "So, as a
beginning, I insist and require and command that
you never exchange a word in future with that
man Romaine."

"How can you speak in this way to me?" said
she, hysterically.

"Mind what I have told you; and I shall see
that you do what you are told to do. I shall see
myself that it is done. I want no argument."

"We shall see," said Mrs. Fermor, with defiance.

Not a word more was spoken on that dismal
passage home. When they entered, she flew
upstairs, and rushed into her father's room.

CHAPTER XXVI.  A DISCOVERY.

GRIM Mr. Carlay was reading when his daughter
entered, and flung herself down at his knees,
sobbing and crying hysterically. Her rich long
hair had broken from all fastening, and came
tumbling about her in a shower.

"My heart is breaking," she said; "help me,
papa. He is killing me!"

A spasm of pain passed over his face for a
moment, and he drew a deep sigh.

"My poor child," he said, with wonderful
affection for so grim a being. "The old story;
I knew it was hurrying on to this. We try
every one else, and, after all, we come back to
the old father or mother."

"But O!" continued she, "he has dared to
slander me; to insult me publicly. He is killing
me. This very night—— "

"I understand," said he. "I know it all. I
have at last come to know him thoroughly.
He is a wretch without a heart; faithless and
unworthy of you and your affection."

"He has insulted me!" she said, starting up
with a fierce pride. "I shall never forget it. I
shall never forgive it. If he only knew that at the
very instant he was accusing me—at that moment
I was behaving in a way that he should have
been proud of! But let he himself take care.
He talks about being sensitive of his own reputation,
and about being pointed at. I say, papa, let
him take care!"

"These are no discoveries to me," said her
father, sadly.

"Then why," said she, turning round, "why
did you let me be sacrificed? He tells me
now openly that it was your money he wanted,
and that he sold himself. Why did you allow
this sale, if you knew so much, papa?"

"My darling," said he, "I thought your
heart was set upon it, and I wished to gratify
you in every way. I was foolish—stupid, but,"
said he, rising and stalking to the door, "it is
not too late yet. I have worse to tell you,
darling; things which it is right that you should
know. Things that I have discovered. For I
have not been shut up all day and night among
musty books. I have been searching, watching
—spying, some would say—but all for you."

"Yes," said she, eagerly; "tell me all, papa!"

He went on hurriedly:

"I suspected him from the beginning. Men
do not forsake their homes and always be found
abroad, or be harsh to their wives, without some
outside reason. I know the world pretty
well. These things repeat each other every day
and every hour. What would you say if that
friend of your heart—that bright noble Miss
Manuel—whom you watched in sickness, and
have almost worshipped, who has kissed you, as
you told me, over and over again—— "

Mrs. Fermor started back. "Impossible!" she
said. "You don't know her, father. What has
she done, then?"

"She is your enemy. She it is, who has drawn
away your husband from you. This is the secret