isper the
cry of indignation, and give vent to an implacable hatred, not in the
presence of ladies, but only in some lonely spot before two male
witnesses. He must have appeared like a man without education or
courtesy, a moralizing pedant. True, there were no means of justifying
himself--even to the most frivolous of these children of the world--for
his inability to breathe the same air with this man. But could he use
an expedient, which would have compelled him to expose the secret, the
honor of his friend? No; he must now submit to the consequences of his
action, and no matter how much he reflected upon the affair, he could
think of no other course which he could have pursued, without lowering
himself in his own eyes. He felt that he could do exactly the same
thing again in a similar event. So in the midst of all his annoyance,
he experienced the satisfaction of having been faithful to himself, and
began to reflect more calmly what course he should now pursue.

He could remain in the castle no longer. Even if he could be sure of
not meeting Lorinser again, he thought it his duty to aid the master of
the house, in causing the strange scene in which he played a principal
part to be forgotten as quickly as possible; this could be most
effectually done by the departure of the disturber of the peace, and
moreover Edwin wished to avoid any farther discussion of the matter.
Let them scoff at him and talk behind his back as they chose, let the
enemy who remained behind reap all the advantage from having kept the
field--what did he care? The one person, whose opinion he valued, would
not misunderstand him; that he knew, that, the last glance with which
she followed his retreating figure, had told him.

But had he come to the castle to chastise a worthless scoundrel, and
might he now leave feeling that his business had been well performed?
Could he leave her who had confessed that she had no friend but him,
who in the greatest complication of her fate, grasped his hand in
despairing terror? he was helpless to aid her it was true, but she had
appealed to him with the certainty that at least she would be compelled
no longer to bear her burden unaided by human help or sympathy. If he
suddenly failed her again, would it not sunder the last tie that bound
her to life? And yet, how could he hope to afford her any real
assistance? He scarcely knew how to help himself in the violent
conflict of feelings which her presence had aroused