with me,
all grew dark, and I lost consciousness. When I recovered my senses I
found myself in bed, with Madelena and several of her kind neighbors in
attendance upon me. Many days passed before I was able to look again at
the file of English newspapers.

"You had married again! you had married just one week before the birth of
my son! But under what circumstances had you married? Did you suppose me
to be dead, and that my death had set you free? Or--oh, horror! had you
dragged my name before a public tribunal, and by lying _facts_--for
facts do often lie--had you branded me with infidelity, and repudiated me
by divorce?

"Such were the questions that tormented me, until I was able to examine
the file of English newspapers, and find out from them; for, as before,
I would not have taken any one into my confidence by getting another to
read the papers for me, even if I could have found any one in that rural
Italian neighborhood capable of reading English.

"At length, one morning, I sent for the papers, and began to look them
over, and I found--merciful Heaven! what I feared to find--the full
report of our divorce trial! found myself held up to public scorn and
execration, the reproach of my own sex--the contempt of yours! Found
myself, in short, convicted and divorced from you, upon the foulest
charge that can be brought upon a woman! Guiltless as I was! wronged as
I had been! wishing only to live a pure and blameless life, as I did!

"Oh! the intolerable anguish of the days that followed! But for my baby
boy, I think I should have died, or maddened!

"In my worst paroxysms, good Madelena would come and take up my baby and
lay him on my bosom, and whisper, that no doubt, though his handsome
young father had gone to Heaven, it was all for the best; and we too,
if we were good, would one day meet him there, or words to that effect.

"Surely angels are with children, and their presence makes itself felt
in the comfort children bring to wounded hearts.

"One day, in a state bordering on idiocy, I think, I examined and
compared dates, in the sickening hope that my darling boy might have been
born before the decree of divorce had been pronounced, and thus be the
heir of his father's dukedom, notwithstanding all that followed.

"But, ah! that faint hope also was destined to die! The dates, compared,
stood thus:

"The decree of divorce was pronounced February 13th, 18--.

"The marriage between yourself and Lady August