bled thoughts in some excitement. I believe I will go to
the Far East--Egypt, Palestine--anywhere to escape this feeling of utter
desolation," he answered, dejectedly.

"When will you go?"

"At once--before the week is out, if I can arrange to do so."

"Have you any special commands for me to attend to during your absence?"

"None, save that you are to remain here as usual, if you like, and in case
any word comes from my loved ones, send for me at once."

"Very well. Have you any idea how long you will be away?"

"No. I may not be gone a month; I may stay ten years; it will depend upon
how well I can kill time," returned Sir William, moodily.

"Oh, William, I wish you would try and rise above this trouble," said his
sister, out of all patience with him at heart, but speaking in a soothing
tone. "I do not like to pain you, but, truly, it looks to me as if your
wife had been guilty of willful desertion in thus hiding herself from you,
and I believe there would be a great deal of happiness yet for you if you
could be freed from her entirely, and then bring some good, gentle woman
here to make your home pleasant for you."

It was the first time that she had ever been able to gather courage
sufficient to make this proposition; but she was wholly unprepared for the
storm of wrath which the suggestion brought upon her head.

Sir William came and stood, tall and stern, before her, his face almost
convulsed with mingled pain and wrath, his eyes blazing dangerously:

"Miriam Linton," he began, in a suppressed tone, "never dare to open your
lips on such a subject to me again. I married my darling for better or
worse, until death should part us, and only my death or hers will ever
break the tie--at least with my consent--that binds us."

He turned abruptly and left the room as he ceased speaking, more angry
with her than he had ever been before.

Lady Linton was thoroughly startled by what he had said, and she knew she
would never dare suggest such a measure again to him; but she still had a
secret hope, from what Mrs. Farnum had written her, that the injured wife
would seek a legal separation from him.

She imagined that this might be the reason of Virgie keeping so quiet just
at present, and she was all the more willing and glad to have her brother
go away from home, as he proposed doing, because she knew that he would
have to be notified whenever any such proceedings should be instituted,
and she feared if he were t