excuse for desertion--you yourself were deceived; and I pardon him, for
he pardoned Jasper, and we are fellow-sufferers. You weep! Pardon my
rudeness. I did not mean to pain you. Try and listen calmly--I must
hurry on. On leaving Mr. Darrell I crossed to France. I saw the nurse;
I have ascertained the truth; here are the proofs in this packet. I came
back--I saw Jasper Losely. He was on the eve of seeking you, whom he had
already so wronged--of claiming the child, or rather of extorting money
for the renunciation of a claim to one whom you had adopted. I told him
how vainly he had hitherto sought to fly from me. One by one I recited
the guilty schemes in which I had baffled his purpose--all the dangers
from which I had rescued his life. I commanded him to forbear the
project he had then commenced. I told him I would frustrate that project
as I had frustrated others. Alas, alas! why is this tongue so harsh?--
why does this face so belie the idea of human kindness? I did but enrage
and madden him; he felt but the reckless impulse to destroy the life that
then stood between himself and the objects to which he had pledged his
own self-destruction. I thought I should die by his hand. I did not
quail. Ah! the ghastly change that came over his face--the one glance of
amaze and superstitious horror; his arm obeyed him not; his strength, his
limbs, forsook him; he fell at my feet--one side of him stricken dead!
Hist! that is his voice--pardon me!" and Arabella flitted from the room,
leaving the door ajar.

A feeble Voice, like the treble of an infirm old man, came painfully to
Caroline's ear.

"I want to turn; help me. Why am I left alone? It is cruel to leave me
so--cruel!"

In the softest tones to which that harsh voice could be tuned, the grim