object of indignation. So felt and acted William Beauchamp. A mere
wordy contention with his wife, experience had already proved to
him, would be an inglorious one.

Fearing, from his knowledge of his brother's character and
disposition, a result, sooner or later, like that which had taken
place, Charles Linden, although he had no correspondence with any of
his family, had the most accurate information from a friend of all
that transpired at P--.

One evening, on coming home from business and joining his wife and
sister, between whom love had grown into a strong uniting bond, he
said--"I have rather painful news from P--."

"What is it?" was asked by both Ellen and Florence, with anxious
concern on both their faces.

"Mother has separated herself from William and his wife."

"What I have been expecting to hear almost every day," Florence
replied. "Antoinette has never treated mother as if she had the
slightest regard for her. As to love, she has but one object upon
which to lavish it--that is herself. She cares no more for William
than she does for mother, and is only bound to him by external
consideration. But where has mother gone?"

"To the house of Mrs. R---."

"An old friend?"