mine! And what is more natural to the ardent explorer than to announce
his discoveries? I had learned that I had loved an angelic being; what
wonder that I desired to inform the one person in the world who had a
right to know it, that such was my extreme privilege? Of this I am
content, reader, to be judged by thee. If my enthusiasm was extravagant,
surely it was pardonable. Judge me then as thou wilt, and as thou canst,
for the end of this chapter of my history is cardinal.

But there were these moving considerations also. If Aurelia had tacitly
reproached herself to her husband with what were my crimes, and only
mine--was it not my bounden duty to save her before it were too late?
Must I not avow what, as it seemed, she was on the point of avowing? If
she--pure innocent--believed herself guilty and needing forgiveness--
whereas I and I only was that monster--in a few moments' time, when she
should be with her husband in the innermost shrine of the Temple of
Hymen, I might be sure she would take upon herself the guilt, and alone
receive my punishment. Could I endure the thought of this, miserable
that I was? Could I suffer such a sacrifice and wear the livery of man?
I knew that I could not. "Out, therefore, of thy hiding-place, sinner,"
I bade myself, "and get the vice scourged out of thee."

These were a part of my reflections, this was my plain resolution.
Generous, honourable, they seemed to me then--honourable alike to
Aurelia and to her husband. The doctor had replenished his glass, and
was leaning back in his chair. He had released some of the buttons of
his vest, and they had flown to their repose. He was looking down at the
table, where he twisted the glass about; he was thinking of his wife, of
her sweet humour, innocence and purity--of everything which I so adored
and had dared to tarnish. He was frowning and smiling at once at his
thoughts. I heard him say to himself, "That's a good girl--that's a good