“Hewasillatthetime，“Juliusanswered。“AndhehadbeenthinkingofeventsinhispastlifewithwhichIamentirelyunacquainted。Hesaidhehadknownyourfatherandmother。Hedesiredme，ifyouwereeverinwantofanyassistance，toplacemyservicesatyourdisposal。Whenheexpressedthatwish，hespokeveryearnestly——hegavemetheimpressionthattherewasafeelingofregretassociatedwiththerecollectionsonwhichhehadbeendwelling。“
Slowly，andinsilence，Annedrewbacktothelowwalloftheterracecloseby。Sherestedonehandonittosupportherself。
Juliushadsaidwordsofterribleimportwithoutasuspicionofwhathehaddone。NeveruntilnowhadAnneSilvesterknownthatthemanwhohadbetrayedherwasthesonofthatothermanwhosediscoveryoftheflawinthemarriagehadendedinthebetrayalofhermotherbeforeher。Shefelttheshockoftherevelationwithachillofsuperstitiousdread。Wasthechainofafatalitywoundinvisiblyroundher？Turnwhichwayshemightwasshestillgoingdarklyon，inthetrackofherdeadmother，toanappointedandhereditarydoom？Presentthingspassedfromherviewastheawfuldoubtcastitsshadowoverhermind。Shelivedagainforamomentinthetimewhenshewasachild。Shesawthefaceofhermotheroncemore，withthewandespaironitofthebygonedayswhenthetitleofwifewasdeniedher，andthesocialprospectwasclosedforever。
Juliusapproached，androusedher。
“CanIgetyouanything？“heasked。“Youarelookingveryill。I