different tone,
would on no account thus surrender himself to an evil bondage. Indeed
he felt all the severity of youthful virtue, and had little toleration
for his uncle's ways of thinking; though, when the old man had come
home ill, dejected, and half blind, he had allowed himself to be made
useful on business matters. And thus he had discovered the marriage,
and had taken up the cause with the ardour stimulated by a chivalrous
feeling for the beautiful vision of his childhood, whose sudden
disappearance had ended his brightest days.

'I suppose it is right and generous of the young man,' said Miss
Headworth. 'But since the--the man is alive, I wish my poor Alice
could have been left at peace!'

'You forget that her daughter has rights which must be taken into
consideration.'

'Little Nuttie! Dear child! I should so far like her to be provided
for, so far as that she need not go out in the world to earn her own
livelihood. But no! better be as we are than accept anything from that
man!'

'I quite understand and respect your feeling, Miss Headworth,' returned
the lady; 'but may I return to my question whether you think your niece
has any doubt of her husband being dead.'

Miss Headworth considered. 'Since you ask me, I think she has kept the
possibility of the life before her. We have never mentioned the
subject, and, as I said, the belief in his death ended a great suspense
and sense of wounded affection. She began soon and vigorously to turn
her attention to the support of her child, and has found a fair measure
of happiness; but at the same time she has shrunk from all notice and
society, more than would be natural in so very young a widow and so
attractive, more than I should have expected from her original
character. And once, when she did apprehend symptoms of admiration,
she insisted that I should tell the history, enough, as she said, to
make it plain that it was impossible. There was one night too, when
she had scarlatina, and was a little lightheaded, only four years ago,
when she talked a good deal about his coming back; but that might have
been only the old impression on her brain, of that long watching at
Dieppe. He--Captain Egremont, does not yet know where she is?'

'No, certainly not. But I fear he must.'

'I suppose he ought,' sighed Miss Headworth; 'but in the meantime, till
we know what line he takes, surely she need not be unsettled by the
knowledge of his existence.'

'By no