now, madam, to tell you anything you wish to know--indeed I
had supposed that you were acquainted with everything relating to
Edith's marriage, and its fatal results."

"I know absolutely nothing but what I have learned to-day. We never
received a single letter, or message, or news of any kind, or in any
shape, from Edith or her husband, from the day they left until now."

"Yon did not hear, then, that he was court-martialed, and--sentenced to
death!"

"No, no--good heaven, no!"

"He was tried for mutiny or rebellion--I know not which--but it was for
raising arms against his superior officers while here in America--the
occasion was--but you know the occasion better than I do."

"Yes, yes, it was when he rescued Edith from the violence of Thorg and
his men. But oh! heaven, how horrible! that he should have been
condemned to death for a noble act! It is incredible--impossible--how
could it have happened? He never expected such a fate--none of us did,
or we would never have consented to his return. There seemed no prospect
of such a thing. How could it have been?"

"There was treachery, and perhaps perjury, too. He had an insidious and
unscrupulous enemy, who assumed the guise of repentance, and candor, and
friendship, the better to lure him into his toils--it was the infamous
Colonel Thorg, who received the command of the regiment, in reward for
his great services in America. And Michael's only powerful friend, who
could and would have saved him--was dead. General Ross, you are aware,
was killed in the battle of Baltimore."

"God have mercy on poor Edith! How long has it been since, this
happened, my dear girl?"

"When they reached Toronto, in Canada West, the regiment commanded by
Thorg was about to sail for England. On its arrival at York, in England,
a court-martial was formed, and Michael was brought to trial. There was
a great deal of personal prejudice, distortion of facts, and even
perjury--in short, he was condemned and sentenced one day and led out
and shot the next!"

There was silence between them then. Henrietta sat in pale and
speechless horror.

"But how long is it since my poor Edith has been so awfully widowed?" at
length inquired Mrs. Waugh.

"Nearly four months," replied Marian, in a tremulous voice. "For six
weeks succeeding his death, she was not able to rise from her bed. I
came from school to nurse her. I found her completely prostrated under
the blow. I wonder she had not died. What p