iercing, and intense, that it gave a
character of abstraction to all he said. In other words, she felt as
if his language proceeded out of his lips unconsciously, and that some
mysterious purport of his heart emanated from his eye. It appeared to
her that he was thinking of something secret connected with herself, to
which his words bore no reference whatsoever. She neither knew what to
do nor what to say under this terrible and permeating gaze; it was in
vain she turned away her eyes; she knew--she felt--that his was upon
her--that it was drinking up her strength--that, in fact, the evil
influence was; mingling with and debilitating her frame, and operating
upon all her faculties. There was still, however, a worse symptom, and
one which gave that gaze a significance that appalled her--this was
the smile of triumph which she had seen playing coldly but triumphantly
about his lips in her dreams. That smile was the feather to the arrow
that pierced her, and that was piercing her at that moment--it was the
cold but glittering glance of the rattlesnake, when breaking down by the
poison of his eyes the power of resistance in his devoted victim.

"Mr. Woodward," said she, after a long pause, "I am unable to bear an
interview--have the goodness to withdraw, and when you go down-stairs
send my mother up. Excuse me, sir; but you must perceive how very ill I
have got within a few minutes."

"I regret it exceedingly, Miss Goodwin. I had something to mention to
you respecting that unfortunate brother of mine; but you are not now in
a condition to hear anything unpleasant and distressing; and, indeed,
it is better, I think, now that I observe your state of health, that you
should not even wish to hear it."

"I never do wish to hear it, sir; but have the goodness to leave me."

"I trust my next visit will find you better. Good-by, Miss Goodwin! I
shall send your mother up."

[Illustration: PAGE 697-- One long, dark, inexplicable gaze]

He withdrew very much after the etiquette of a subject leaving a crowned
head--that is, nearly backwards; but when he came to the door he paused
a moment, turning upon her one long, dark, inexplicable gaze, whilst
the muscles of his hard, stony mouth were drawn back with a smile
that contained in its expression a spirit that might be considered
complacent, but which Alice interpreted as derisive and diabolical.

"Mamma," said she, when her mother joined her, "I am ill, and I know not
what to do.