hat."

"Women, Mr. Bertram, well know that when married they must sometimes
bear a sharp word. But the sharp word before marriage; that is very
hard to be borne."

"I measure my words-- But why should I defend myself? Of course your
verdict will be on your friend's side. I should hate you if it were
not so. But, oh! Adela, if I have sinned, I have been punished. I
have been punished heavily. Indeed, indeed, I have been punished."
And sitting down, he bowed himself on the table, and hid his face
within his hands.

This was in the drawing-room, and before Adela could venture to speak
to him again, one of the girls came into the room.

"Adela," said she, "we are waiting for you to go down to the school."

"I am coming directly," said Adela, jumping up, and still hoping that
Mary would go on, so as to leave her one moment alone with Bertram.
But Mary showed no sign of moving without her friend. Instead of
doing so, she asked her cousin whether he had a headache?

"Not at all," said he, looking up; "but I am half asleep. This Hurst
Staple is a sleepy place, I think. Where's Arthur?"

"He's in the study."

"Well, I'll go into the study also. One can always sleep there
without being disturbed."

"You're very civil, master George." And then Adela followed her
friend down to the school.

But she could not rest while the matter stood in this way. She felt
that she had been both harsh and unjust to Bertram. She knew that
the fault had been with Caroline; and yet she had allowed herself to
speak of it as though he, and he only, had been to blame. She felt,
moreover, an expressible tenderness for his sorrow. When he declared
how cruel was his punishment, she could willingly have given him the
sympathy of her tears. For were not their cases in many points the
same?

She was determined to see him again before she went, and to tell him
that she acquitted him;--that she knew the greater fault was not with
him. This in itself would not comfort him; but she would endeavour so
to put it that he might draw comfort from it.

"I must see you for a moment alone, before I go," she said to him
that evening in the drawing-room. "I go very early on Thursday
morning. When can I speak to you? You are never up early, I know."

"But I will be to-morrow. Will you be afraid to come out with me
before breakfast?"

"Oh no! she would not be at all afraid," she said: and so the
appointment was made.

"I know you'll think me very foolish