determined at once to enter upon her grand project of reform she made her appearance just one quarter of an hour before dinner was announced nor did she rise from table as had been her usual custom a few minutes after was placed and when lord entered the drawing room it � was from the fair hands of his bride that he received his cup of coffee she then took her work basket and drawing a sofa near to the table seated herself with the composed air of one determined to make herself comfortable for a long evening not that felt any very remarkable degree of composure far from it for though a pleasant smile beamed on her face she was sensible of a very uncomfortable feeling at heart as for lord finding his wife in a more accessible humor than ordinary he did not propose to while away the evening with a book but seated himself by her side for about three quarters of an hour or more they conversed and felt that she enjoyed more even this restrained intercourse than her solitary presently the clock struck ten she started � so rapidly had time fled and yet she had not taken the first step in the new character she had resolved to assume she had yet made no at reconciliation since the morning the earl quitted her presence in and until this was done � until there existed a perfect understanding between them both that the past was forgiven � she felt it almost hopeless to enter upon her task of but to plunge into the of this almost forbidden ground required no small portion of moral courage therefore poor s spirits suddenly became subdued and her eyes were more bent upon the group of glowing she was working lord made no remark on her sudden abstraction perhaps concluding that one of her moods was fast over her long glossy hung low and veiled her face or perhaps he might have divined from the varying hue of her cheek that some unusual emotion agitated her her fair head drooped still lower over the canvas as she spoke are you still displeased with me lord have you forgiven the pain my inflicted last week she asked after a long silence in very low tones slightly glancing towards him a short pause ensued she continued working nervously do you ask this because you think it a necessary duty or is it that you really value my forgiveness said lord earnestly i say it because it me to have incurred your just displeasure but believe me lord i am deeply deeply for all you have done for me and above all for your which so surpassed my deserts replied her voice faltering the least in the world � put down your work then and listen to me said the earl taking the canvas from her hands she it without an effort now i am going to appeal to your reason to your sense of propriety resumed lord in the eye of u od in the eye of man you are my wife and in voluntarily to take that position you incurred a vast load of responsibility new duties unfolded themselves to you in a more special manner your example is looked up to by your equals as well as those placed beneath you now i would ask is it fitting that this responsibility should remain longer disregarded by you or that to our whole household the spectacle of our in heart and deed should be daily exhibited � you are right lord i see my error believe me however my solitary meditations have not been and firom henceforth i will to be all you can desire replied sorrowfully will you do so will you indeed become my companion and sometimes also show me a glimpse of your heart let me read its language and then confess if my interpretation bo right a smile of assent trembled on her lips if you faithfully perform this and moreover give me that confidence i have hitherto so vainly asked and consult me and only me in every future difficulty i promise you i will never more reproach you i will forget the past said the earl taking her hand involuntarily her little fingers closed over his i will engage to do all this lord you shall never more find me ungrateful insensible to your goodness or heedless of your remonstrance mine has been too bitter a lesson to need repetition am i then forgiven exclaimed she while tears dropped from her eyes and she turned her agitated towards him can you doubt it for a moment oh how many heart would have been spared us had you possessed to confide in me after your first interview with that man at said as he threw his arm around her her head sank on his bosom tell me assure me again that colonel never possessed your heart he never did � never i murmured she for one instant with happiness unspeakable filling her heart she rested in his arm the next moment she started hurriedly away the dark shadow of her evil genius � � again interposed and her spirit beneath its influence in her hasty movement a small gold chain on her neck became accidentally entangled round one the buttons of the coat pride in the twinkling of an eye suggested the unworthy thought that he might this accident into an artful device and in an instant she snatched it away and the slender chain fell to the ground she turned away however and busied herself in into her basket the scattered on the table her hand trembled the more so as she felt that lord s eyes were upon her she shrank under his steady scrutiny and unable longer to endure the ordeal she hurriedly traversed the room and opening the piano sat down before it her and soon she found the impossibility of 