y from manly delicacy, partly because he foresaw
his fortitude would give way if he mentioned her.

But now the strong man's breast seemed as if it would burst, and his
gasping breath, and restless body, betrayed what a price he must have
paid for the dogged fortitude he had displayed for several weeks,
love-sick all the time.

Ransome was affected: he rose and walked about the room, ashamed to look
at a Spartan broken down.

When he had given Little time to recover some little composure, he said,
"Mr. Little, you were always too much of a gentleman to gossip about the
lady you love; and it was not my business to intrude upon that subject;
it was too delicate. But, of course, with what I have picked up here
and there, and what you have let drop, without the least intending it, I
know pretty well how the land lies. And, sir, a man does not come to my
time of life without a sore and heavy heart; if I was to tell you how I
came to be a bachelor--but, no; even after ten years I could not answer
for myself. All I can say is that, if you should do me the honor to
consult me on something that is nearer your heart than revenge, you
would have all my sympathy and all my zeal."

"Give me your hand, old fellow," said Little, and broke down again.

But, this time, he shook it off quickly, and, to encourage him, Mr.
Ransome said, "To begin, you may take my word Mr. Carden knows, by this
time, where his daughter is. Why not sound him on the matter?"

Henry acted on this advice, and called on Mr. Carden.

He was received very coldly by that gentleman.

After some hesitation, he asked Mr. Carden if he had any news of his
daughter.

"I have."

The young man's face was irradiated with joy directly.

"Is she well, sir?"

"Yes."

"Is she happier than she was?"

"She is content."

"Has she friends about her? Kind, good people; any persons of her own
sex, whom she can love?"

"She is among people she takes for angels, at present. She will find
them to be petty, mean, malicious devils. She is in a Protestant
convent."

"In a convent? Where?"

"Where? Where neither the fool nor the villain, who have wrecked her
happiness between them, and robbed me of her, will ever find her. I
expected this visit, sir; the only thing I doubted was which would come
first, the villain or the fool. The fool has come first, and being a
fool, expects ME to tell him where to find his victim, and torture
her again. Begone, fool, from the hou