CHAPTERI。
THEBRIDE’SMISTAKE。
\"FORafterthismannerintheoldtimetheholywomenalsowhotrustedinGodadornedthemselves，beinginsubjectionuntotheirownhusbands；evenasSarahobeyedAbraham，callinghimlord；
whosedaughtersyeareaslongasyedowell，andarenotafraidwithanyamazement。\"
ConcludingtheMarriageServiceoftheChurchofEnglandinthosewell—knownwords，myuncleStarkweathershutuphisbook，andlookedatmeacrossthealtarrailswithaheartyexpressionofinterestonhisbroad，redface。Atthesametimemyaunt，Mrs。
Starkweather，standingbymyside，tappedmesmartlyontheshoulder，andsaid，\"Valeria，youaremarried！\"
Whereweremythoughts？Whathadbecomeofmyattention？Iwastoobewilderedtoknow。Istartedandlookedatmynewhusband。
HeseemedtobealmostasmuchbewilderedasIwas。Thesamethoughthad，asIbelieve，occurredtousbothatthesamemoment。Wasitreallypossible——inspiteofhismother’soppositiontoourmarriage——thatwewereManandWife？MyauntStarkweathersettledthequestionbyasecondtaponmyshoulder。
\"Takehisarm！\"shewhispered，inthetoneofawomanwhohadlostallpatiencewithme。
Itookhisarm。
\"Followyouruncle。\"
Holdingfastbymyhusband’sarm，Ifollowedmyuncleandthecuratewhohadassistedhimatthemarriage。
Thetwoclergymenledusintothevestry。ThechurchwasinoneofthedrearyquartersofLondon，situatedbetweentheCityandtheWestEnd；thedaywasdull；theatmospherewasheavyanddamp。Wewereamelancholylittleweddingparty，worthyofthedrearyneighborhoodandthedullday。Norelativesorfriendsofmyhusband’swerepresent；hisfamily，asIhavealreadyhinted，disapprovedofhismarriage。Exceptmyuncleandmyaunt，nootherrelationsappearedonmyside。Ihadlostbothmyparents，andIhadbutfewfriends。Mydearfather’sfaithfuloldclerk，Benjamin，attendedtheweddingto\"givemeaway，\"asthephraseis。Hehadknownmefromachild，and，inmyforlornposition，hewasasgoodasafathertome。
Thelastceremonylefttobeperformedwas，asusual，thesigningofthemarriageregister。Intheconfusionofthemoment（andintheabsenceofanyinformationtoguideme）Icommittedamistake——ominous，inmyauntStarkweather’sopinion，ofeviltocome。Isignedmymarriedinsteadofmymaidenname。
\"What！\"criedmyuncle，inhisloudestandcheeriesttones，\"youhaveforgottenyourownnamealready？Well，well！letushopeyouwillneverrepentpartingwithitsoreadily。Tryagain，Valeria——tryagain。\"
WithtremblingfingersIstruckthepenthroughmyfirsteffort，andwrotemymaidenname，verybadlyindeed，asfollows：
ValeriaBrintonWhenitcametomyhusband’sturnInoticed，withsurprise，thathishandtrembledtoo，andthatheproducedaverypoorspecimenofhiscustomarysignature：
EustaceWoodvilleMyaunt，onbeingrequestedtosign，compliedunderprotest。\"A
badbeginning！\"shesaid，pointingtomyfirstunfortunatesignaturewiththefeatherendofherpen。\"Ihope，mydear，youmaynotlivetoregretit。\"
Eventhen，inthedaysofmyignoranceandmyinnocence，thatcuriousoutbreakofmyaunt’ssuperstitionproducedacertainuneasysensationinmymind。Itwasaconsolationtometofeelthereassuringpressureofmyhusband’shand。Itwasanindescribablerelieftohearmyuncle’sheartyvoicewishingmeahappylifeatparting。Thegoodmanhadlefthisnorth—countryVicarage（myhomesincethedeathofmyparents）expresslytoreadtheserviceatmymarriage；andheandmyaunthadarrangedtoreturnbythemid—daytrain。Hefoldedmeinhisgreatstrongarms，andhegavemeakisswhichmustcertainlyhavebeenheardbytheidlerswaitingforthebrideandbridegroomoutsidethechurchdoor。
\"Iwishyouhealthandhappiness，mylove，withallmyheart。Youareoldenoughtochooseforyourself，and——nooffense，Mr。
Woodville，youandIarenewfriends——andIprayGod，Valeria，itmayturnoutthatyouhavechosenwell。Ourhousewillbedrearyenoughwithoutyou；butIdon’tcomplain，mydear。Onthecontrary，ifthischangeinyourlifemakesyouhappier，I
rejoice。Come，come！don’tcry，oryouwillsetyourauntoff——andit’snojokeathertimeoflife。Besides，cryingwillspoilyourbeauty。Dryyoureyesandlookintheglassthere，andyouwillseethatIamright。Good—by，child——andGodblessyou！\"
Hetuckedmyauntunderhisarm，andhurriedout。Myheartsankalittle，dearlyasIlovedmyhusband，whenIhadseenthelastofthetruefriendandprotectorofmymaidendays。
ThepartingwitholdBenjamincamenext。\"Iwishyouwell，mydear；don’tforgetme，\"wasallhesaid。Buttheolddaysathomecamebackonmeatthosefewwords。BenjaminalwaysdinedwithusonSundaysinmyfather’stime，andalwaysbroughtsomelittlepresentwithhimforhismaster’schild。Iwasverynearto\"spoilingmybeauty\"（asmyunclehadputit）whenIofferedtheoldmanmycheektokiss，andheardhimsightohimself，asifhetoowerenotquitehopefulaboutmyfuturelife。
Myhusband’svoicerousedme，andturnedmymindtohappierthoughts。
\"Shallwego，Valeria？\"heasked。
Istoppedhimonourwayouttotakeadvantageofmyuncle’sadvice；inotherwords，toseehowIlookedintheglassoverthevestryfireplace。
Whatdoestheglassshowme？
Theglassshowsatallandslenderyoungwomanofthree—and—twentyyearsofage。Sheisnotatallthesortofpersonwhoattractsattentioninthestreet，seeingthatshefailstoexhibitthepopularyellowhairandthepopularpaintedcheeks。Herhairisblack；dressed，intheselaterdays（asitwasdressedyearssincetopleaseherfather），inbroadripplesdrawnbackfromtheforehead，andgatheredintoasimpleknotbehind（likethehairoftheVenusdeMedicis），soastoshowtheneckbeneath。Hercomplexionispale：exceptinmomentsofviolentagitationthereisnocolortobeseeninherface。Hereyesareofsodarkabluethattheyaregenerallymistakenforblack。Hereyebrowsarewellenoughinform，buttheyaretoodarkandtoostronglymarked。Hernosejustinclinestowardtheaquilinebend，andisconsideredalittletoolargebypersonsdifficulttopleaseinthematterofnoses。Themouth，herbestfeature，isverydelicatelyshaped，andiscapableofpresentinggreatvarietiesofexpression。Astothefaceingeneral，itistoonarrowandtoolongatthelowerpart，toobroadandtoolowinthehigherregionsoftheeyesandthehead。Thewholepicture，asreflectedintheglass，representsawomanofsomeelegance，rathertoopale，andrathertoosedateandseriousinhermomentsofsilenceandrepose——inshort，apersonwhofailstostriketheordinaryobserveratfirstsight，butwhogainsingeneralestimationonasecond，andsometimesonathirdview。Asforherdress，itstudiouslyconceals，insteadofproclaiming，thatshehasbeenmarriedthatmorning。Shewearsagraycashmeretunictrimmedwithgraysilk，andhavingaskirtofthesamematerialandcolorbeneathit。Onherheadisabonnettomatch，relievedbyaquillingofwhitemuslinwithonedeepredrose，asamorselofpositivecolor，tocompletetheeffectofthewholedress。
HaveIsucceededorfailedindescribingthepictureofmyselfwhichIseeintheglass？Itisnotformetosay。Ihavedonemybesttokeepclearofthetwovanities——thevanityofdepreciatingandthevanityofpraisingmyownpersonalappearance。Fortherest，wellwrittenorbadlywritten，thankHeavenitisdone！
AndwhomdoIseeintheglassstandingbymyside？
IseeamanwhoisnotquitesotallasIam，andwhohasthemisfortuneoflookingolderthanhisyears。Hisforeheadisprematurelybald。Hisbigchestnut—coloredbeardandhislongoverhangingmustacheareprematurelystreakedwithgray。Hehasthecolorinthefacewhichmyfacewants，andthefirmnessinhisfigurewhichmyfigurewants。Helooksatmewiththetenderestandgentlesteyes（ofalightbrown）thatIeversawinthecountenanceofaman。Hissmileisrareandsweet；hismanner，perfectlyquietandretiring，hasyetalatentpersuasivenessinitwhichis（towomen）irresistiblywinning。Hejusthaltsalittleinhiswalk，fromtheeffectofaninjuryreceivedinpastyears，whenhewasasoldierservinginIndia，andhecarriesathickbamboocane，withacuriouscrutchhandle（anoldfavorite），tohelphimselfalongwheneverhegetsonhisfeet，indoorsorout。Withthisonelittledrawback（ifitisadrawback），thereisnothinginfirmoroldorawkwardabouthim；
hisslightlimpwhenhewalkshas（perhapstomypartialeyes）acertainquaintgraceofitsown，whichispleasantertoseethantheunrestrainedactivityofothermen。Andlastandbestofall，Ilovehim！Ilovehim！Ilovehim！Andthereisanendofmyportraitofmyhusbandonourwedding—day。
TheglasshastoldmeallIwanttoknow。Weleavethevestryatlast。
Thesky，cloudysincethemorning，hasdarkenedwhilewehavebeeninthechurch，andtherainisbeginningtofallheavily。
Theidlersoutsidestareatusgrimlyundertheirumbrellasaswepassthroughtheirranksandhastenintoourcarriage。Nocheering；nosunshine；noflowersstrewninourpath；nograndbreakfast；nogenialspeeches；nobridesmaids；nofathersormother’sblessing。Adrearywedding——thereisnodenyingit——and（ifAuntStarkweatherisright）abadbeginningaswell！
A_coup_hasbeenreservedforusattherailwaystation。Theattentiveporter，onthelook—outforhisfeepullsdowntheblindsoverthesidewindowsofthecarriage，andshutsoutallpryingeyesinthatway。Afterwhatseemstobeaninterminabledelaythetrainstarts。Myhusbandwindshisarmroundme。\"Atlast！\"hewhispers，withloveinhiseyesthatnowordscanutter，andpressesmetohimgently。Myarmstealsroundhisneck；myeyesanswerhiseyes。Ourlipsmeetinthefirstlong，lingeringkissofourmarriedlife。
Oh，whatrecollectionsofthatjourneyriseinmeasIwrite！Letmedrymyeyes，andshutupmypaperfortheday。
CHAPTERII。
THEBRIDE’STHOUGHTS。
WEhadbeentravelingforalittlemorethananhourwhenachangepassedinsensiblyoverusboth。
Stillsittingclosetogether，withmyhandinhis，withmyheadonhisshoulder，littlebylittlewefellinsensiblyintosilence。Hadwealreadyexhaustedthenarrowyeteloquentvocabularyoflove？Orhadwedeterminedbyunexpressedconsent，afterenjoyingtheluxuryofpassionthatspeaks，totrythedeeperandfinerraptureofpassionthatthinks？Icanhardlydetermine；Ionlyknowthatatimecamewhen，undersomestrangeinfluence，ourlipswereclosedtowardeachother。Wetraveledalong，eachofusabsorbedinourownreverie。Washethinkingexclusivelyofme——asIwasthinkingexclusivelyofhim？Beforethejourney’sendIhadmydoubts；atalittlelatertimeIknewforcertainthathisthoughts，wanderingfarawayfromhisyoungwife，wereallturnedinwardonhisownunhappyself。
Formethesecretpleasureoffillingmymindwithhim，whileI
felthimbymyside，wasaluxuryinitself。
Ipicturedinmythoughtsourfirstmeetingintheneighborhoodofmyuncle’shouse。
Ourfamousnorth—countrytroutstreamwounditsflashingandfoamingwaythrougharavineintherockymoorland。Itwasawindy，shadowyevening。Aheavilycloudedsunsetlaylowandredinthewest。Asolitaryanglerstoodcastinghisflyataturninthestreamwherethebackwaterlaystillanddeepunderanoverhangingbank。Agirl（myself）standingonthebank，invisibletothefishermanbeneath，waitedeagerlytoseethetroutrise。
Themomentcame；thefishtookthefly。
Sometimesonthelittlelevelstripofsandatthefootofthebank，sometimes（whenthestreamturnedagain）intheshallowerwaterrushingoveritsrockybed，theanglerfollowedthecapturedtrout，nowlettingthelinerunoutandnowwindingitinagain，inthedifficultanddelicateprocessof\"playing\"thefish。AlongthebankIfollowedtowatchthecontestofskillandcunningbetweenthemanandthetrout。IhadlivedlongenoughwithmyuncleStarkweathertocatchsomeofhisenthusiasmforfieldsports，andtolearnsomething，especially，oftheangler’sart。Stillfollowingthestranger，withmyeyesintentlyfixedoneverymovementofhisrodandline，andwithnotsomuchasachancefragmentofmyattentiontosparefortheroughpathalongwhichIwaswalking，Isteppedbychanceonthelooseoverhangingearthattheedgeofthebank，andfellintothestreaminaninstant。
Thedistancewastrifling，thewaterwasshallow，thebedoftheriverwas（fortunatelyforme）ofsand。BeyondthefrightandthewettingIhadnothingtocomplainof。InafewmomentsIwasoutofthewaterandupagain，verymuchashamedofmyself，onthefirmground。Shortastheintervalwas，itprovedlongenoughtofavortheescapeofthefish。Theanglerhadheardmyfirstinstinctivecryofalarm，hadturned，andhadthrownasidehisrodtohelpme。Weconfrontedeachotherforthefirsttime，Ionthebankandheintheshallowwaterbelow。Oureyesencountered，andIverilybelieveourheartsencounteredatthesamemoment。
ThisIknowforcertain，weforgotourbreedingasladyandgentleman：welookedateachotherinbarbaroussilence。
Iwasthefirsttorecovermyself。WhatdidIsaytohim？
Isaidsomethingaboutmynotbeinghurt，andthensomethingmore，urginghimtorunbackandtryifhemightnotyetrecoverthefish。
Hewentbackunwillingly。Hereturnedtome——ofcoursewithoutthefish。Knowinghowbitterlydisappointedmyunclewouldhavebeeninhisplace，Iapologizedveryearnestly。Inmyeagernesstomakeatonement，Ievenofferedtoshowhimaspotwherehemighttryagain，lowerdownthestream。
Hewouldnothearofit；heentreatedmetogohomeandchangemywetdress。Icarednothingforthewetting，butIobeyedhimwithoutknowingwhy。
Hewalkedwithme。MywaybacktotheVicaragewashiswaybacktotheinn。Hehadcometoourparts，hetoldme，forthequietandretirementasmuchasforthefishing。Hehadnoticedmeonceortwicefromthewindowofhisroomattheinn。HeaskedifI
werenotthevicar’sdaughter。
Isethimright。Itoldhimthatthevicarhadmarriedmymother’ssister，andthatthetwohadbeenfatherandmothertomesincethedeathofmyparents。HeaskedifhemightventuretocallonDoctorStarkweatherthenextday，mentioningthenameofafriendofhis，withwhomhebelievedthevicartobeacquainted。Iinvitedhimtovisitus，asifithadbeenmyhouse；Iwasspell—boundunderhiseyesandunderhisvoice。I
hadfancied，honestlyfancied，myselftohavebeeninloveoftenandoftenbeforethistime。Neverinanyotherman’scompanyhadIfeltasInowfeltinthepresenceof_this_man。Nightseemedtofallsuddenlyovertheeveninglandscapewhenheleftme。I
leanedagainsttheVicaragegate。Icouldnotbreathe，Icouldnotthink；myheartflutteredasifitwouldflyoutofmybosom——andallthisforastranger！Iburnedwithshame；butoh，inspiteofitall，Iwassohappy！
Andnow，whenlittlemorethanafewweekshadpassedsincethatfirstmeeting，Ihadhimbymyside；hewasmineforlife！I
liftedmyheadfromhisbosomtolookathim。Iwaslikeachildwithanewtoy——Iwantedtomakesurethathewasreallymyown。
Henevernoticedtheaction；henevermovedinhiscornerofthecarriage。Washedeepinhisownthoughts？andweretheythoughtsofMe？
Ilaiddownmyheadagainsoftly，soasnottodisturbhim。Mythoughtswanderedbackwardoncemore，andshowedmeanotherpictureinthegoldengalleryofthepast。
ThegardenattheVicarageformedthenewscene。Thetimewasnight。Wehadmettogetherinsecret。Wewerewalkingslowlytoandfro，outofsightofthehouse，nowintheshadowypathsoftheshrubbery，nowinthelovelymoonlightontheopenlawn。
Wehadlongsinceownedourloveanddevotedourlivestoeachother。Alreadyourinterestswereone；alreadywesharedthepleasuresandthepainsoflife。Ihadgoneouttomeethimthatnightwithaheavyheart，toseekcomfortinhispresenceandtofindencouragementinhisvoice。HenoticedthatIsighedwhenhefirsttookmeinhisarms，andhegentlyturnedmyheadtowardthemoonlighttoreadmytroubleinmyface。Howoftenhehadreadmyhappinessthereintheearlierdaysofourlove！
\"Youbringbadnews，myangel，\"hesaid，liftingmyhairtenderlyfrommyforeheadashespoke。\"Iseethelinesherewhichtellmeofanxietyanddistress。IalmostwishIlovedyoulessdearly，Valeria。\"
\"Why？\"
\"Imightgiveyoubackyourfreedom。Ihaveonlytoleavethisplace，andyourunclewouldbesatisfied，andyouwouldberelievedfromallthecaresthatarepressingonyounow。\"
\"Don’tspeakofit，Eustace！Ifyouwantmetoforgetmycares，sayyoulovememoredearlythanever。\"
Hesaiditinakiss。Wehadamomentofexquisiteforgetfulnessofthehardwaysoflife——amomentofdeliciousabsorptionineachother。Icamebacktorealitiesfortifiedandcomposed，rewardedforallthatIhadgonethrough，readytogothroughitalloveragainforanotherkiss。Onlygiveawomanlove，andthereisnothingshewillnotventure，suffer，anddo。
\"No，theyhavedonewithobjecting。TheyhaverememberedatlastthatIamofage，andthatIcanchooseformyself。Theyhavebeenpleadingwithme，Eustace，togiveyouup。Myaunt，whomI
thoughtratherahardwoman，hasbeencrying——forthefirsttimeinmyexperienceofher。Myuncle，alwayskindandgoodtome，hasbeenkinderandbetterthanever。HehastoldmethatifI
persistinbecomingyourwife，Ishallnotbedesertedonmywedding—day。Whereverwemaymarry，hewillbetheretoreadtheservice，andmyauntwillgotothechurchwithme。ButheentreatsmetoconsiderseriouslywhatIamdoing——toconsenttoaseparationfromyouforatime——toconsultotherpeopleonmypositiontowardyou，ifIamnotsatisfiedwithhisopinion。Oh，mydarling，theyareasanxioustopartusasifyouweretheworstinsteadofthebestofmen！\"
\"Hasanythinghappenedsinceyesterdaytoincreasetheirdistrustofme？\"heasked。
\"Yes，\"
\"Whatisit？\"
\"Yourememberreferringmyuncletoafriendofyoursandofhis？\"
\"Yes。ToMajorFitz—David。\"
\"MyunclehaswrittentoMajorFitz—David\"
\"Why？\"
Hepronouncedthatonewordinatonesoutterlyunlikehisnaturaltonethathisvoicesoundedquitestrangetome。
\"Youwon’tbeangry，Eustace，ifItellyou？\"Isaid。\"Myuncle，asIunderstoodhim，hadseveralmotivesforwritingtothemajor。Oneofthemwastoinquireifheknewyourmother’saddress。\"
Eustacesuddenlystoodstill。
Ipausedatthesamemoment，feelingthatIcouldventurenofurtherwithouttheriskofoffendinghim。
Tospeakthetruth，hisconduct，whenhefirstmentionedourengagementtomyuncle，hadbeen（sofarasappearanceswent）alittleflightyandstrange。Thevicarhadnaturallyquestionedhimabouthisfamily。Hehadansweredthathisfatherwasdead；
andhehadconsented，thoughnotveryreadily，toannouncehiscontemplatedmarriagetohismother。Informingusthatshetoolivedinthecountry，hehadgonetoseeher，withoutmoreparticularlymentioningheraddress。IntwodayshehadreturnedtotheVicaragewithaverystartlingmessage。Hismotherintendednodisrespecttomeormyrelatives，butshedisapprovedsoabsolutelyofherson’smarriagethatshe（andthemembersofherfamily，whoallagreedwithher）wouldrefusetobepresentattheceremony，ifMr。WoodvillepersistedinkeepinghisengagementwithDr。Starkweather’sniece。Beingaskedtoexplainthisextraordinarycommunication，Eustacehadtoldusthathismotherandhissisterswerebentonhismarryinganotherlady，andthattheywerebitterlymortifiedanddisappointedbyhischoosingastrangertothefamily。Thisexplanationwasenoughforme；itimplied，sofarasIwasconcerned，acomplimenttomysuperiorinfluenceoverEustace，whichawomanalwaysreceiveswithpleasure。Butitfailedtosatisfymyuncleandmyaunt。ThevicarexpressedtoMr。Woodvilleawishtowritetohismother，ortoseeher，onthesubjectofherstrangemessage。Eustaceobstinatelydeclinedtomentionhismother’saddress，onthegroundthatthevicar’sinterferencewouldbeutterlyuseless。Myuncleatoncedrewtheconclusionthatthemysteryabouttheaddressindicatedsomethingwrong。HerefusedtofavorMr。
Woodville’srenewedproposalformyhand，andhewrotethesamedaytomakeinquiriesofMr。Woodville’sreferenceandofhisownfriendMajorFitz—David。
Undersuchcircumstancesasthese，tospeakofmyuncle’smotiveswastoventureonverydelicateground。EustacerelievedmefromfurtherembarrassmentbyaskingaquestiontowhichIcouldeasilyreply。
\"HasyourunclereceivedanyanswerfromMajorFitz—David？\"heinquired。
\"Yes。
\"Wereyouallowedtoreadit？\"Hisvoicesankashesaidthosewords；hisfacebetrayedasuddenanxietywhichitpainedmetosee。
\"Ihavegottheanswerwithmetoshowyou，\"Isaid。
Healmostsnatchedtheletteroutofmyhand；heturnedhisbackonmetoreaditbythelightofthemoon。Theletterwasshortenoughtobesoonread。Icouldhaverepeateditatthetime。I
canrepeatitnow。
\"DEARVICAR——Mr。EustaceWoodvilleisquitecorrectinstatingtoyouthatheisagentlemanbybirthandposition，andthatheinherits（underhisdeceasedfather’swill）anindependentfortuneoftwothousandayear。
\"Alwaysyours，\"LAWRENCEFITZ—DAVID。\"
\"Cananybodywishforaplaineranswerthanthat？\"Eustaceasked，handingtheletterbacktome。
\"If_I_hadwrittenforinformationaboutyou，\"Ianswered，\"itwouldhavebeenplainenoughforme。\"
\"Isitnotplainenoughforyouruncle？\"
\"No。\"
\"Whatdoeshesay？\"
\"Whyneedyoucaretoknow，mydarling？\"
\"Iwanttoknow，Valeria。Theremustbenosecretbetweenusinthismatter。Didyourunclesayanythingwhenheshowedyouthemajor’sletter？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Whatwasit？\"
\"Myuncletoldmethathisletterofinquiryfilledthreepages，andhebademeobservethatthemajor’sanswercontainedonesentenceonly。Hesaid，’IvolunteeredtogotoMajorFitz—Davidandtalkthematterover。Youseehetakesnonoticeofmyproposal。IaskedhimfortheaddressofMr。Woodville’smother。
Hepassesovermyrequest，ashehaspassedovermyproposal——hestudiouslyconfineshimselftotheshortestpossiblestatementofbarefacts。Useyourcommon—sense，Valeria。Isn’tthisrudenessratherremarkableonthepartofamanwhoisagentlemanbybirthandbreeding，andwhoisalsoafriendofmine？’\"
Eustacestoppedmethere。
\"Didyouansweryouruncle’squestion？\"heasked。
\"No，\"Ireplied。\"IonlysaidthatIdidnotunderstandthemajor’sconduct。\"
\"Andwhatdidyourunclesaynext？Ifyouloveme，Valeria，tellmethetruth。\"
\"Heusedverystronglanguage，Eustace。Heisanoldman；youmustnotbeoffendedwithhim。\"
\"Iamnotoffended。Whatdidhesay？\"
\"Hesaid，’Markmywords！ThereissomethingunderthesurfaceinconnectionwithMr。Woodville，orwithhisfamily，towhichMajorFitz—Davidisnotatlibertytoallude。Properlyinterpreted，Valeria，thatletterisawarning。ShowittoMr。Woodville，andtellhim（ifyoulike）whatIhavejusttoldyou——’\"
Eustacestoppedmeagain。
\"Youaresureyourunclesaidthosewords？\"heasked，scanningmyfaceattentivelyinthemoonlight。
\"Quitesure。ButIdon’tsaywhatmyunclesays。Praydon’tthinkthat！\"
Hesuddenlypressedmetohisbosom，andfixedhiseyesonmine。
Hislookfrightenedme。
\"Good—by，Valeria！\"hesaid。\"Tryandthinkkindlyofme，mydarling，whenyouaremarriedtosomehappierman。\"
Heattemptedtoleaveme。Iclungtohiminanagonyofterrorthatshookmefromheadtofoot。
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"Iasked，assoonasIcouldspeak。\"Iamyoursandyoursonly。WhathaveIsaid，whathaveIdone，todeservethosedreadfulwords？\"
\"Wemustpart，myangel，\"heanswered，sadly。\"Thefaultisnoneofyours；themisfortuneisallmine。MyValeria！howcanyoumarryamanwhoisanobjectofsuspiciontoyournearestanddearestfriends？Ihaveledadrearylife。Ihaveneverfoundinanyotherwomanthesympathywithme，thesweetcomfortandcompanionship，thatIfindinyou。Oh，itishardtoloseyou！itishardtogobackagaintomyunfriendedlife！Imustmakethesacrifice，love，foryoursake。Iknownomorewhythatletteriswhatitisthanyoudo。Willyourunclebelieveme？willyourfriendsbelieveme？Onelastkiss，Valeria！Forgivemeforhavinglovedyou——passionately，devotedlylovedyou。Forgiveme——andletmego！\"