y energy immense, in labor; my
training in household economy good; and, besides, I had a real talent
for pleasing my boarders. I was to be provided with a servant; and the
care of the marketing would devolve upon Mr. Seabrook. With this
amelioration of my labors, the burden could be easily borne for the sake
of the profits."

"What business was Mr. Seabrook in?"

"I never thought of the subject at that time. He was always well
dressed; associated with men of business; seemed to have money; and I
never doubted that such a man was able to do anything he proposed.
Women, you know, unconsciously attribute at least an earthly omnipotence
to men. Afterwards, of course, I was disillusioned. But I must hasten,
for it is growing late; and either the storm or these old memories shake
my nerves.

"I had asked for a month's time to prepare my mind for my coming
marriage. At the end of a week, however, Mr. Seabrook came to me and
told me that imperative business called him away for an absence of
several weeks, and that, in his judgment, the marriage ceremony should
take place before he left. He should be away over the month I had
stipulated for; and, in case of accident, I would have the protection of
his name. My objections were soon overruled, and on the morning of his
departure we were married--as I believed, legally and firmly bound--in
the presence of my family of boarders, and two or three women, including
Mrs. ----. He went away immediately, and I was left to my tumultuous
thoughts."

"May I be permitted to know whether you loved him at all, at that time?
It seems to me that you must have sometimes yearned for the ownership of
some heart, and the strong tenderness of man's firmer nature."

Mrs. Greyfield looked at me with a curiously mixed expression, half of
sarcastic pity, half of amused contempt. But the thought, whatever it
was, went unspoken. She reflected a moment silently before she answered.

"I have told you that my heart remained unweaned from the memory of my
dead husband. I told Mr. Seabrook the same. But I admired, respected and
believed in him; he was agreeable to me, and had my confidence. There
can be no doubt, but if he had been all that he seemed, I should have
ended by loving him in a quiet and constant way. As it was, the shock I
felt at the discovery of his perfidy was terrible.

"My ears were yet tingling with my new name, when, everybody having
gone, I sat down with Benton on my lap to have the