was in
love. The occasions on which her fondness for him had led her to give
expression to it, almost in defiance of all considerations, rose more
clearly before his mental sight, and he distinctly remembered that just
on those very occasions some strange unaccountable antipathy to her had
caused a curious, inexplicable irritation of feeling towards her. This
feeling of angry irritation he now brought to bear upon himself, filled
as he was by the profoundest pity for the poor girl, whose destiny
seemed to have been ruled by such an evil star.

It so happened that on this very evening the self-same party to which
Euchar had told the story of Edgar's adventures in Spain, two years
previously, were assembled at Madame Veh's. He was greeted with the
greatest warmth, but an electric thrill went through him when he saw
Victorine, as he had not thought he would meet her there. There was no
trace of illness about her. Her eyes shone as brilliantly as of old,
and a carefully-chosen costume of great tastefulness enhanced her
loveliness and charm. Euchar, distressed by her presence, was depressed
and put out, contrary to his usual wont. Victorine so managed matters
as to be able to approach him, and suddenly seizing his hand, drew him
aside, saying gravely and calmly--

"You know my husband's pet theory of the mutual interdependence of
things? I believe what constitutes the real 'mutual interdependence of
things' in our lives to be the follies which we commit, repent of, and
commit again and again. So that our lives appear to consist of a
process of being wildly hunted hither and thither by a species of
enchantment beyond our control, which drives us on before it till it
mocks and dashes us into death. I know all, Euchar; I know whom I am
going to see this evening. It was not you who brought those bitter,
hopeless sorrows upon me; not you, but an evil fate. The demon was laid
and vanished at the moment when I saw you again. May peace and rest be
upon us, Euchar."

"Yes, Victorine," Euchar answered, "may rest and peace be upon us.
However miscomprehended a life may be, the Eternal Power does not leave
it without hope."

"All is ended--and well," said Victorine; and, wiping a tear away, she
turned to the company.

Madame Veh had been observant of this pair, and now whispered to
Euchar--

"I told her everything. Was I right?"

"I must go through with the whole business," Euchar answered.

The company--as often happens in