insincere and a thoroughly selfish person, caring nothing for the
comfort or happiness of others. She had perceived Zoe's antipathy from
the first day of their acquaintance, and took a revengeful, malicious
delight in tormenting her; and she had sufficient penetration to see
that the most effectual way to accomplish her end was through Edward.
The young wife's ardent and jealous affection for her husband was very
evident; plainly, it was pain to her to see him show Miss Deane the
slightest attention, or seem interested in any thing she did or said;
therefore the intruder put forth every effort to interest him, and
monopolize his attention, and at the same time contrived to draw out
into exhibition the most unamiable traits in Zoe's character, doing it
so adroitly that Edward did not perceive her agency in the matter, and
thought Zoe alone to blame. To him Miss Deane's behavior appeared
unexceptionable, her manner most polite and courteous, Zoe's just the
reverse.

It was so through all that day and week; for the storm continued, and
the uninvited guest never so much as hinted at a wish to leave the
shelter of their hospitable roof.

Zoe began each day with heroic resolve to be patient and forbearing,
sweet-tempered and polite, toward her tormentor, and ended it with a
deep sense of humiliating failure, and of having lost something of the
high esteem and admiration in which her almost idolized husband had been
wont to hold her.

Feeling that, more or less of change in her manner toward him was
inevitable; less sure than formerly of his entire approval and ardent
affection, a certain timidity and hesitation crept into her manner of
approaching him, even when they were quite alone together; she grew sad,
silent, and reserved: and he, thinking her sullen and jealous without
reason, ceased to lavish endearments upon her, and, more than that, half
unconsciously allowed both his looks and tones to express disapprobation
and reproof.

That almost broke Zoe's heart; but she strove to hide her wounds from
him, and especially from her tormentor.

The storm kept Edward in the house: at another time that would have been
a joy to Zoe, but now it only added to her troubles, affording constant
opportunity to the wily foe to carry out her evil designs.

On the evening of the second day from the setting in of the storm, Miss
Deane challenged Edward to a game of chess. He accepted at once, and
with an air of quiet satisfaction br