YetthesefriendlycottagerswereatthistimefarfromsuspectingtherealdimensionsofEmmeline\'smisery，norwasitcleareventothosewhocameintomuchclosercommunionwithherthanthey，sowellhadsheconcealedherheart-sickness。Butbrideandbridegroomhadnotlongbeenhomeatthecastlewhentheyoungwife\'sunhappinessbecameplainlyenoughperceptible。Hermaidsandmensaidthatshewasinthehabitofturningtothewainscotandsheddingstupidscaldingtearsatatimewhenaright-mindedladywouldhavebeenoverhaulingherwardrobe。Sheprayedearnestlyinthegreatchurch-pew，whereshesatlonelyandinsignificantasamouseinacell，insteadofcountingherrings，fallingasleep，oramusingherselfinsilentlaughteratthequeeroldpeopleinthecongregation，aspreviousbeautiesofthefamilyhaddoneintheirtime。Sheseemedtocarenomoreforeatinganddrinkingoutofcrystalandsilverthanfromaserviceofearthenvessels。Herheadwas，intruth，fullofsomethingelse；andthatsuchwasthecasewasonlytooobvioustotheDuke，herhusband。Atfirsthewouldonlytauntherforherfollyinthinkingofthatmilk-and-waterparson；butastimewentonhischargestookamorepositiveshape。
Hewouldnotbelieveherassurancethatshehadinnowaycommunicatedwithherformerlover，norhewithher，sincetheirpartinginthepresenceofherfather。Thisledtosomestrangescenesbetweenthemwhichneednotbedetailed；theirresultwassoontotakeacatastrophicshape。
Onedarkquietevening，abouttwomonthsafterthemarriage，amanenteredthegateadmittingfromthehighwaytotheparkandavenuewhichranuptothehouse。Hearrivedwithintwohundredyardsofthewalls，whenheleftthegravelleddriveanddrewneartothecastlebyaroundaboutpathleadingintoashrubbery。Herehestoodstill。Inafewminutesthestrokesofthecastle-clockresounded，andthenafemalefigureenteredthesamesecludednookfromanoppositedirection。Therethetwoindistinctpersonsleapttogetherlikeapairofdewdropsonaleaf；andthentheystoodapart，facingeachother，thewomanlookingdown。
\'Emmeline，youbeggedmetocome，andhereIam，Heavenforgiveme!\'
saidthemanhoarsely。