s. It was not the anguish of
a loving heart which made her tremble; it was the wounded pride of the
woman.

He had abandoned her. Her beauty, her youth no longer had the power to
enchain him--the man with white hairs and withered features.

He had written her that he was satiated and weary, not of her, but only
of love in general; that his heart had become old and withered like his
face: and that there was still in his breast no more room for love, but
only for ambition.

Was not that a revolting, an unheard-of outrage--to abandon the finest
woman in England for the sake of empty, cold, stern ambition?

She opened the letter once more. Once more she read that place. Then
grinding her teeth with tears of anger in her eyes: "He shall pay me for
this! I will take vengeance for this insult!" She thrust the letter into
her bosom, and touched the silver bell.

"Have my carriage brought round!" was her order to the servant who
entered; and he withdrew in silence.

"I will avenge myself!" muttered she, as with trembling hands she
wrapped herself in her large Turkish shawl. "I will avenge myself; and,
by the Eternal! it shall be a bloody and swift vengeance! I will show
him that I, too, am ambitious, and that my pride is not to be humbled.
He says he will forget me. Oh, I will compel him to think of me, even
though it be only to curse me!"

With hasty step she sped through the glittering apartments, which the
liberality of her lover had furnished so magnificently, and descended to
the carriage standing ready for her.

"To the Duchess of Norfolk's!" said she to the footman standing at the
door of the carriage, as she entered it.

The servant looked at her in astonishment and inquiringly.

"To the Duke of Norfolk; is it not, my lady?"

"No, indeed, to the duchess!" cried she with a frown, as she leaned back
on the cushion.

After a short time, the carriage drew up before the palace of the
duchess, and with haughty tread and commanding air she passed through
the porch.

"Announce me to the duchess immediately," was her order to the lackey
who was hurrying to meet her.

"Your name, my lady?"

"Miss Arabella Holland."

The servant stepped back, and stared at her in surprise.

"Miss Arabella Holland! and you order me to announce you to the
duchess?"

A contemptuous smile played a moment about the thin lips of the
beautiful miss. "I see you know me," said she, "and you wonder a little
to see me here. Wonder as