. You have offered to tell; I have refused to hear: my ignorance
will not be charged on you.'

'Be it so: you shall not hear it from me. But if the blow fall too
suddenly upon you when it comes, remember I wished to soften it!'

I left him. I was determined his words should not alarm me. What could
he, of all men, have to reveal that was of importance for me to hear? It
was no doubt some exaggerated tale about my unfortunate husband that he
wished to make the most of to serve his own bad purposes.

6th.--He has not alluded to this momentous mystery since, and I have seen
no reason to repent of my unwillingness to hear it. The threatened blow
has not been struck yet, and I do not greatly fear it. At present I am
pleased with Arthur: he has not positively disgraced himself for upwards
of a fortnight, and all this last week has been so very moderate in his
indulgence at table that I can perceive a marked difference in his
general temper and appearance. Dare I hope this will continue?

CHAPTER XXXIII

Seventh.--Yes, I will hope! To-night I heard Grimsby and Hattersley
grumbling together about the inhospitality of their host. They did not
know I was near, for I happened to be standing behind the curtain in the
bow of the window, watching the moon rising over the clump of tall dark
elm-trees below the lawn, and wondering why Arthur was so sentimental as
to stand without, leaning against the outer pillar of the portico,
apparently watching it too.

'So, I suppose we've seen the last of our merry carousals in this house,'
said Mr. Hattersley; 'I thought his good-fellowship wouldn't last long.
But,' added he, laughing, 'I didn't expect it would meet its end this
way. I rather thought our pretty hostess would be setting up her
porcupine quills, and threatening to turn us out of the house if we
didn't mind our manners.'

'You didn't foresee this, then?' answered Grimsby, with a guttural
chuckle. 'But he'll change again when he's sick of her. If we come here
a year or two hence, we shall have all our own way, you'll see.'

'I don't know,' replied the other: 'she's not the style of woman you soon
tire of. But be that as it may, it's devilish provoking now that we
can't be jolly, because he chooses to be on his good behaviour.'

'It's all these cursed women!' muttered Grimsby: 'they're the very bane
of the world! They bring trouble and discomfort wherever they come, with
their false, fair faces and the