d its satanity, if we may be allowed to
coin a word, at every glance. It was not mere antipathy she felt for him
now, but dread and horror. How, then, was she to act? She had pledged
herself to receive his visits upon one condition, and to permit him
to continue a friendly intimacy altogether apart from love. How, then,
could she violate her word, or treat him with rudeness, who had always
not only treated her with courtesy, but expressed an interest in her
happiness which she had every reason to believe sincere? Thus was the
poor girl entangled with difficulties on every side without possessing
any means of releasing herself from them.

In a few days after this she was sitting in the drawing-room when
Woodward unexpectedly entered it, and saluted her with great apparent
good feeling and politeness. The surprise caused her to become as pale
as death; she felt her very limbs relax with weakness, and her breath
for a few moments taken away from her; she looked upon him with an
expression of alarm and fear which she could not conceal, and it was
with some difficulty that she was at length enabled to speak.

"You will excuse me, sir," she said, "for not rising; I am very nervous,
and have not been at all well for the last week or upwards."

"Indeed, Miss Goodwin, I am very sorry to hear this; I trust it is only
a mere passing indisposition; I think the complaint is general, for my
sister has also been ailing much the same way for the last few days.
Don't be alarmed, Miss Goodwin, it is nothing, and won't signify. You
should mingle more in society; you keep too much alone."

"But I do not relish society; I never mingle in it that I don't feel
exhausted and depressed."

"That certainly makes a serious difference; in such a case, then, I
imagine society would do you more harm than good. I should not have
intruded on you had not your mother requested me to come up and try to
raise your spirits--a pleasure which I would gladly enjoy if I could."

"I am much obliged to you, Mr. Woodward," she replied; "I hope a short
time will remove this unusual depression, and I must only have a little
patience."

"Just so, Miss Goodwin; a little time, as you say, will restore you to
yourself."

Now all this was very courteous and kind of Mr. Woodward, and might have
raised her spirits were it not for the eye. From the moment he entered
the apartment that dreaded instrument of his power was fixed upon her
with a look so concentrated, p