requent apologies and long hours of silence. Once
only, and then after a week of unrelieved melancholy, he went over to
the "Green Dragon," spent the afternoon with the landlord and a bowl of
punch, and returned as on the first night, devious in step but courteous
and unperturbed of speech.

If he seemed more natural and more at his ease it was when he found
Nance alone; and, laying by some of his reserve, talked before her
rather than to her of his destiny, character, and hopes. To Nance these
interviews were but a doubtful privilege. At times he would seem to
take a pleasure in her presence, to consult her gravely, to hear and to
discuss her counsels; at times even, but these were rare and brief, he
would talk of herself, praise the qualities that she possessed, touch
indulgently on her defects, and lend her books to read and even examine
her upon her reading; but far more often he would fall into a half
unconsciousness, put her a question and then answer it himself, drop
into the veiled tone of voice of one soliloquising, and leave her at
last as though he had forgotten her existence. It was odd, too, that in
all this random converse, not a fact of his past life, and scarce a
name, should ever cross his lips. A profound reserve kept watch upon his
most unguarded moments. He spoke continually of himself, indeed, but
still in enigmas; a veiled prophet of egoism.

The base of Nance's feelings for Mr. Archer was admiration as for a
superior being; and with this, his treatment, consciously or not,
accorded happily. When he forgot her, she took the blame upon herself.
His formal politeness was so exquisite that this essential brutality
stood excused. His compliments, besides, were always grave and rational;
he would offer reason for his praise, convict her of merit, and thus
disarm suspicion. Nay, and the very hours when he forgot and remembered
her alternately could by the ardent fallacies of youth be read in the
light of an attention. She might be far from his confidence; but still
she was nearer it than any one. He might ignore her presence, but yet he
sought it.

Moreover, she, upon her side, was conscious of one point of superiority.
Beside this rather dismal, rather effeminate man, who recoiled from a
worm, who grew giddy on the castle wall, who bore so helplessly the
weight of his misfortunes, she felt herself a head and shoulders taller
in cheerful and sterling courage. She could walk head in air along the
most