ling whisper,
"she drank; at first sherry,--brown sherry--but afterwards brandy,--ay,
ma'am, brandy neat and a matter of a bottle daily. If you only knew what
I went through with her,--the scenes in the streets, in the playhouses,
in coffee-rooms,--ay, and police-offices,--I give you my sacred word of
honor Simpson Hankes was rapidly becoming as great a public scandal as
the Rev. Paul Classon himself!"

"Cannot you perceive, sir, that these details are less than
uninteresting to me?"

"Don't say that, Miss Kellett,--don't, I beg you, or else you 'll make
me fear that you 'll not read the little pamphlet I published, entitled
'A Brief Statement by Simpson Hankes,'--a brochure that I am proud to
believe decided the world in my favor."

"Once for all, Mr. Hankes, I decline to hear more of these matters. If I
have not more plainly told you how little they claim to interest me, it
is because my own selfish cares fill up my thoughts. I will try to
hand you the correspondence Mr. Dunn desires to see in your keeping by
to-morrow morning. There are many circumstances will require special
explanation in it. However I will do my best to be ready."

"And my offer, Miss Kellett?"

"I have declined it, sir."

"But really, young lady, are you well aware of what it is you refuse?"
asked he, angrily.

"I will not discuss the question, sir," said she, haughtily. "Give me
that letter I showed you."

"The letter, I opine, is mine, Miss Kellett. The address alone pertains
to you."

"Do you mean, then, to retain possession of the letter?" asked she,
hurriedly.

"I protest, I think it is better--better for all of us--that I should do
so. You will pardon me if I observe that you are now under the influence
of excited feelings,--you are irritated. Any line of action, under
such circumstances, will necessarily be deficient in that calm, matured
judgment which is mainly your characteristic."

"It needed but this, sir, to fill up the measure!" ex-claimed she,
passionately.

"I don't perfectly apprehend you, Miss Kellett."

"I mean, sir, that this last trait of yours was alone wanting to
complete the utter contempt I now feel for my late life and
its associates. Mr. Dunn's letter, with all its disgraceful
disclosures,--your own crafty counsels how best to profit by the
accidental knowledge,--and now this refusal to restore the letter,--this
mean distrust based on a breach of confidence--"

"By no means, madam. In withholding thi