s displeasing
to her. An incident one night occurred, from which a sagacious observer
deduced the existence of an intrigue. It was useless to attempt to
rectify his mistake by explaining appearances in a manner consistent
with my innocence. This mode of explication implied a _continence_ in me
which he denied to be possible. The standard of possibilities,
especially in vice and virtue, is fashioned by most men after their own
character. A temptation which this judge of human nature knew that _he_
was unable to resist, he sagely concluded to be irresistible by any
other man, and quickly established the belief among my neighbours, that
the woman who married the father had been prostituted to the son. Though
I never admitted the truth of this aspersion, I believed it useless to
deny, because no one would credit my denial, and because I had no power
to disprove it.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

What other inquiries were to be resolved by our young friend, we were
now, at this late hour, obliged to postpone till the morrow. I shall
pass over the reflections which a story like this would naturally
suggest, and hasten to our next interview.

After breakfast next morning, the subject of last night's conversation
was renewed. I told him that something had occurred in his absence, in
relation to Mrs. Wentworth and her nephew, that had perplexed us not a
little. "My information is obtained," continued I, "from Wortley; and it
is nothing less than that young Clavering, Mrs. Wentworth's nephew, is,
at this time, actually alive."

Surprise, but none of the embarrassment of guilt, appeared in his
countenance at these tidings. He looked at me as if desirous that I
should proceed.

"It seems," added I, "that a letter was lately received by this lady
from the father of Clavering, who is now in Europe. This letter reports
that this son was lately met with in Charleston, and relates the means
which old Mr. Clavering had used to prevail upon his son to return home;
means, of the success of which he entertained well-grounded hopes. What
think you?"

"I can only reject it," said he, after some pause, "as untrue. The
father's correspondent may have been deceived. The father may have been
deceived, or the father may conceive it necessary to deceive the aunt,
or some other supposition as to the source of the error may be true; but
an error it surely is. Clavering is not alive. I know the chamber where
he died, and the withered pine under wh