seen, he was a poor diplomatist, and took the very worst way to
arrive at anything like the truth. So saying "Not guilty, but
_don't do it again_," or words to that effect, he left the hotel
and returned to his own house. Here he disclosed his fears to his
wife, but she scouted the idea as preposterous, and urged him to
have Mary's marriage with Hazelton celebrated as soon as convenient,
and so put an end to all possible contingencies.

Shortly after the return of the family to Montreal Mr. Hazelton led
to the altar with pride the "blushing" Mary Sedley. Good cause,
indeed, had she to blush, for never was man more egregiously
"sold" than was "Mr. Samuel Hazelton, of the city of Montreal,
merchant." The _happy couple_ left by the evening train for Boston,
the "Wedding March," which was admirably performed by Mr. Grandison,
still ringing in their ears.

About five months after this unholy marriage Mrs. Hazelton called on
me, and disclosed to me the whole state of the case, informing me
(of which there was little necessity) that her confinement was close
at hand, and soliciting my aid to get her out of the difficulty. My
first impulse was to call on her husband and acquaint him with the
facts: but, remembering that he occupied a prominent position, not
only in the mercantile, but also in the religious community; moreover,
that a disclosure would in no way mend the matter, and would be a
lasting disgrace not only, to the two culprits, but also to Messrs.
Sedley and Hazelton I listened calmly to her plans for getting out
of the difficulty. She suggested pretending a miscarriage, wished me
to invite her to my house, where she would become ill, and unable to
leave till after her child was born. The child was then to be
conveyed to the nunnery, her husband being deluded into the belief