 since I know it, I feel it my duty to disclose it to you.’

‘Oh, spare us both the infliction, and I will exonerate you from the duty.  You have offered to tell; I have refused to hear: my ignorance will not be charged on you.’

‘Be it so: you shall not hear it from me.  But if the blow fall too suddenly upon you when it comes, remember I wished to soften it!’

I left him.  I was determined his words should not alarm me.  What could he, of all men, have to reveal that was of importance for me to hear?  It was no doubt some exaggerated tale about my unfortunate husband that he wished to make the most of to serve his own bad purposes.

6th.—He has not alluded to this momentous mystery since, and I have seen no reason to repent of my unwillingness to hear it.  The threatened blow has not been struck yet, and I do not greatly fear it.  At present I am pleased with Arthur: he has not positively disgraced himself for upwards of a fortnight, and all this last week has been so very moderate in his indulgence at table that I can perceive a marked difference in his general temper and appearance.  Dare I hope this will continue?

CHAPTER XXXIII

Seventh.—Yes, I will hope!  To-night I heard Grimsby and Hattersley grumbling together about the inhospitality of their host.  They did not know I was near, for I happened to be standing behind the curtain in the bow of the window, watching the moon rising over the clump of tall dark elm-trees below the lawn, and wondering why Arthur was so sentimental as to stand without, leaning against the outer pillar of the portico, apparently watching it too.

‘So, I suppose we’ve seen the last of our merry carousals in this house,’ said Mr. Hattersley; ‘I thought his good-fellowship wouldn’t last long.  But,’ added he, laughing, ‘I didn’t expect it would meet its end this way.  I rather thought our pretty hostess would be setting up her porcupine quills, and threatening to turn us out of the house if we didn’t mind our manners.’

‘You didn’t foresee this, then?’ answered Grimsby, with a guttural chuckle.  ‘But he’ll change again when he’s sick of her.  If we come here a year or two hence, we shall have all our own way, you’ll see.’

‘I don’t know,’ replied the other: ‘she’s not the style of woman you soon tire of.  But be that as it may,
