apologise, and, by heaven, it was Edwin!

"Charley!" said he, recoiling. "Gracious powers, what do you do here?"

"Edwin," said I, recoiling, "gracious powers, what do _you_ do here?" I
struck my forehead as I said it, and an insupportable blaze of light
seemed to shoot before my eyes.

He hurried me into the little parlour (always kept with a slow fire in it
and no poker), where posting company waited while their horses were
putting to, and, shutting the door, said:

"Charley, forgive me!"

"Edwin!" I returned. "Was this well? When I loved her so dearly! When
I had garnered up my heart so long!" I could say no more.

He was shocked when he saw how moved I was, and made the cruel
observation, that he had not thought I should have taken it so much to
heart.

I looked at him. I reproached him no more. But I looked at him. "My
dear, dear Charley," said he, "don't think ill of me, I beseech you! I
know you have a right to my utmost confidence, and, believe me, you have
ever had it until now. I abhor secrecy. Its meanness is intolerable to
me. But I and my dear girl have observed it for your sake."

He and his dear girl! It steeled me.

"You have observed it for my sake, sir?" said I, wondering how his frank