she had been at Exeter but a few days there came
another source of trouble,--though not of unmitigated trouble. She
told her mother that in due course of time her cruel husband would
become the father of a child. She would not write to him. He had
not chosen to let her know his address; nor was it fitting to her
feelings to communicate such a fact in a letter which she must
address secretly to his banker or to his club. Yet the fact was of
such a nature that it was imperative that he should know it. At last
it was told by Mrs. Holt to Lady Grant. Cecilia had herself attempted
it, but had found that she could not do it. She could not write the
letter without some word of tenderness, and she was resolved that no
word of tenderness should go from her to him. It would seem as though
she were asking for money, and were putting forward the coming of the
little stranger as a plea for it. She would ask for no money. She had
appealed to his love, and had appealed in vain. If he were hard, she
would be so too. In her heart of hearts she probably entertained the
idea of some possible future in which she might yet put the child
into its father's arms;--but it should be done not at her request.
It should be at his prayer. At least there was this comfort to
her,--that she no longer dreaded his power. He had so contrived that
to her thinking the fault was altogether on his side. Forgive! Oh
yes; she would forgive! Oh yes; she would forgive, so readily, so
sweetly, with the full determination that it should all be like a
blank nightmare that had come between them and troubled their joys.
But in the bottom of the heart of each it must be understood that it
had been hers to pardon and his to be pardoned. Or if not so, then
she must continue to live her widowed life at Exeter.

Mrs. Holt was energetic and passionate rather than discreet. She
would not admit that her child had done any wrong, and could not be
got to understand but that the law should make a husband live with
his wife in the proper way. It was monstrous to her thinking that
her daughter should be married and taken away, and then sent back,
without any offence on her part. In the resentment which she felt
against Mr. Western she filled quite a new part among the people of
Exeter. "Oh, mamma; you are so loving, so good," said her daughter;
"but do not let us talk about it! Cannot you understand that, angry
as I am, I cannot endure to have him abused?" "Abused!" said Mrs.
Hol