t, and was afterwards convinced, that something in her manner which had puzzled me at first arose from fear. There was that in her life which made her afraid of the

first, partly because I insisted on it when I saw how matters stood, and partly because my position and reputation gave me a right to insist. I never had occasion to brave insults for her sake, but, like many others, I would have done so had it been necessary. Her friends were constantly being driven from her on one pretext or another. People would have taken her part readily enough had she complained, but complaint was

er life became more and more unendurable she became a little reckless in speech; it was a sort of safety-valve by means of which she regained her composure, and I soon began to recog

were driving home from a ball together, her husband suddenly declared that he would not allow her to be one of the patronesses of a

y I not?" I

hear? I will not have it

y such arbitrary injunctio

step until the carriage had

going to obey

ason for what you require

r. Perhaps reflection will make you more dutiful. I shall tell your maid you will not want her to-night. Whe

on one of the garden seats. She wrapped the train of her dress round her shoulders, and lay looking up at the stars. The air was heavy with the scent of flowers. The night was very still. Once

wn appear, and when at last the servants began to move in the house she watched her opportunity and slipped in unobserved. She went to one of the spare rooms, undressed, rang, and got into bed. When the bell was

what-and there was a charm for her in the beauty of the night and the novelty of her position, whic