of ground on which they stood--haunted my memory, and got in the
way of my brighter and happier thoughts. When my aunt inquired if I had
enjoyed the day, I surprised her by saying No. And when she asked why, I
could only answer: "It was all spoiled by Herne Wood."

III.

THREE weeks passed.

The terror of those dreadful days creeps over me again when I think of
them. I mean to tell the truth without shrinking; but I may at least
consult my own feelings by dwelling on certain particulars as briefly as
I can. I shall describe my conduct toward the two men who courted me
in the plainest terms, if I say that I distinguished neither of them.
Innocently and stupidly I encouraged them both.

In books, women are generally represented as knowing their own minds in
matters which relate to love and marriage. This is not my experience of
myself. Day followed day; and, ridiculous as it may appear, I could not
decide which of my two admirers I liked best!

Captain Stanwick was, at first, the man of my choice. While he kept his
temper under control, h e charmed me. But when he let it escape him, he
sometimes disappointed, sometimes irritated me. In that frame of mind
I turned for relief to Lionel Varleigh, feeling that he was the more
gentle and the more worthy man of the two, and honestly believing, at
such times, that I preferred him to his rival. For the first few days
after our visit to Herne Wood I had excellent opportunities of comparing
them. They paid their visits to us together, and they divided their
attentions carefully between me and my aunt. At the end of the week,
however, they began to present themselves separately. If I had possessed
any experience of the natures of men, I might have known what this
meant, and might have seen the future possibility of some more
serious estrangement between the two friends, of which I might be the
unfortunate cause. As it was; I never once troubled my head about what
might be passing out of my presence. Whether they came together, or
whether they came separately, their visits were always agreeable to me.
and I thought of nothing and cared for nothing more.

But the time that was to enlighten me was not far off.

One day Captain Stanwick called much earlier than usual. My aunt had
not yet returned from her morning walk. The Captain made some excuse for
presenting himself under these circumstances which I have now forgotten.

Without actually committing himself to a proposal of ma