moved down the street. A walk of ten minutes brought him to the
house of Mr. Elbridge. But it so happened that this gentleman was
not at home.

"How soon do you expect him to return?" was inquired of the servant.

"He may be here in half an hour; or not before ten o'clock," was the
reply.

Wilkinson was disappointed. Leaving his name with the servant, and
saying that he would probably call again during the evening, he
descended the steps and walked away. He was moving in the direction
of his home, and had arrived within a block thereof when he stopped,
saying to himself as he did so--

"I must see Elbridge this evening. It is already nearly half an hour
since I left home, and I promised Mary that I would not remain away
a moment longer than that time. But, I did not think Elbridge would
be out. Poor Mary! She looks at me with such sad eyes, sometimes,
that it goes to my very heart. She cannot bear to have me out of her
sight. Can she doubt me in any thing? No; I will not believe that.
She is a loving, gentle-minded creature--and one of the best of
wives. Ah me! I wish I were more like her."

Still Wilkinson remained standing, and in debate with himself.

"I will go home," said he, at length, with emphasis, and walked
quickly onward. He was within a few doors of his own home, when his
steps began to linger again. He had come once more into a state of
irresolution.