nged woman can forgive. Neither I nor my brother will
take proceedings against you. What this woman will do I don't know.
If she prosecutes you, and you are true to me, I'll stand by you, but I
won't stand another false step or a false word from you."

Ferguson had again sunk into his chair, buried his face in his hands,
and sat trembling and speechless. Never for an instant had Alida taken
her eyes from him; and now, with a long, wailing cry, she exclaimed,
"Thank God, thank God! Mother's dead."

This was now her best consolation. She rushed into her bedchamber, and
a moment later came out, wearing her hat and cloak. Ferguson started
up and was about to speak, but she silenced him by a gesture, and her
tones were sad and stern as she said, "Mr. Ferguson, from your manner
more truly than from this woman, I learn the truth. You took advantage
of my misfortunes, my sorrow and friendlessness, to deceive me. You
know how false are your wife's words about my eagerness to be deceived
and married. But you have nothing to fear from me. I shall not
prosecute you as she suggests, and I charge you before God to do your
duty by your wife and child and never to speak to me again." Turning,
she hastened toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Ferguson exclaimed, seeking to intercept her.

She waved him off. "I don't know," she replied. "I've no right to be
here," and she fled down the stairway and out into the darkness.

The child had not wakened. It was well that it had not looked upon
such a scene, even in utter ignorance of its meaning.

Chapter VIII.

Holcroft's View of Matrimony

Holcroft was indeed very lonely as he drove through the bare March
fields and leafless woods on his way to town. The sky had clouded
again, like his prospects, and he had the dreary sense of desolation
which overwhelms a quiet, domestic man who feels that his home and all
to which he clings are slipping from him. His lot was hard enough at
best, and he had a bitter sense of being imposed upon and wronged by
Lemuel Weeks. It was now evident enough that the widow and her
daughter had been an intolerable burden to his neighbor, who had taken
advantage of his need and induced him to assume the burden through
false representation. To a man of Holcroft's simple, straightforward
nature, any phase of trickery was intensely repugnant, and the fact
that he had been overreached in a matter relating to his dearest hopes
galled him to th