every thought of his heart, and of whose
secret thoughts he desired to keep the only key. He had flattered
himself that it was so, and this had been the result! It may be
doubted whether his misery were not altogether as bitter as hers.

"Of course she shall live with her mother if she pleases it," he
said to Mr. Gray on the following morning. "As to money, if she will
name no sum that she requires I must leave it to you to say what in
justice ought to be allowed to her. You know all the circumstances of
my property."

"But I know none of the circumstances of your marriage," replied Mr.
Gray.

"They were altogether of the usual kind."

"None of the circumstances of your separation, I should have said."

"It is unnecessary," replied Mr. Western, gloomily.

"It will be very difficult to give her any advice."

"You may take it if you will that the fault is all mine. I would
provide for her as I should be bound to do if by my own cruelty or my
own misconduct I had driven her from me!" He had no idea as he said
this that by his own cruelty and his own misconduct he was driving
her from him.

"My conviction is that she will take nothing," said Mr. Gray.

"In a matter of business she must take it. The money must be paid
to her, let her do what she will with it. Even though it should be
thrown into the sea, I must pay it."

"I think you will find that she has a will of her own."

"And she will find that I have," said Mr. Western with a frown.
It was exactly on this point that the husband and wife were being
separated. He had thought that she had calculated that when once they
were married she had carried her purpose in spite of his will. But he
would let her understand that it was not so. She had so far succeeded
that she was entitled to bear his name, but she had not mastered him
in the matter, and should not do so.

"It is a thousand pities, Mr. Western, you will allow me to say so,
but it is a thousand pities. A most handsome lady:--with a fine
lady-like air! One in a thousand!"

Mr. Western could not endure to hear the catalogue of his wife's
charms set forth to him. He did not want to be told by his lawyer
that she was "handsome" and "one in a thousand"! In that respect
their quarrel made no difference. No gentleman wishes another to
assure him that his wife is one in a thousand. An old mother might
say so, or an old aunt; hardly any one less near and less intimate
could be allowed to do so. Mr. Western wa