Year: 1877

The library was large octagonal room,
furnished with sombre richness of color,
which harmonized we'll with the osken cary.
ings of its high antique wainscotting and OF
the quaint ponderous shelves, fitted into each
recess not occupied by window, and filed
with volumes-old and new-of every sort
and description. A long writing.table stood
in the centre, and wheeling two cushioned
chairs close to this, and fronting each other,
Lord Desborough placed his wife in one, and
seated himself opposite to her, with serious
and business-like air. ..'.. ....-~.e


"You will wonder, Geraldine. perhaps, at
my inviting you thus to formal conference"
he began, "on the first evening of your arrival
here. But I consider it proper, or, at all
events, fitting and expedient, in virtue OF the
newly formed tie between US. to set before you,
clearly and at once, my views in regard to
the same, in order that no mistaken idea of
duty on your part, or of an undue assumption
of authority on mine, should in the slightest
degree influence your actions, or infringe upon
the perfect liberty which am desirous that
you should at all times enjoy"


To this rather long preamble, which he
uttered without looking at her, but with his
gaze fixed upon an ivory psper-cutter, which
he had taken in his hand, Geraldine, not
knowing very we'll what to say. made no re-.
ply. She sat silent and expectant, and waited
with some degree of nervousness, to hear
what should come next. .- ...


"I have, therefore," continued the Earl,
clearing his throat, "taken this early oppor.
tunity to express to you my desire that you
should consider yourself as untrammeled in
your position as my wife, as you we're before
tho creation of that bond, and to assure you
that I shall take no advantage Of il, to con.
troll you in any way Whatever While l shall
always be happy to give you any advice you
may seek from me, and to afford you, as q
matter of course, the benefit of my protection
on all occasions, yet at the same time shall
claim nothing from you that you do not vol
UNFAIRLY accord me neither shall intrude
nv society upon you more frequently than
you may find agreeable. 1t is unhappily ev-
ident to me-" he added, somewhat more hur-
riedly, "that you have entered into this re-
lation not of your own will, and that your
hand alone, and not your heart, has been Civ.
en- into my possession at the altar. Of course,
do not in the least blame you for this, since
the affections cannot be controlled, or forced
contrary to their bent"


Geraldine bent her eyes upon the ground.
A painful sensation overpowered her, but she
remained outwardly unmoved.


"Having made myself understood on this
point" pursued Lord Desborough after brief
silence, during which he had apparently been
waiting for reply, II shall proceed to anoth'
or, which I desire to make equally clear to
YOU. While the consciousness which l feel
of the absence of any tenderness in your SEN
timents toward me makes me resolve not to
offend you by unwelcome overtures on my
part, vet, at the same time, do not wish you
to construe this reserve of mine into feeling
of coldness or dislike, or attribute it to any
but its real source. am desirous that q per
fectly friendly understanding should exist be-
tween us, and that you should consider me
always at your service, for the qualification Of
any and all Of your wishes. I'should be
greatly hurt if you failed to call upon me free
" for whatever you might desire or need
that my own foresight had neglected to pro
vide. Will. you promise me to do this at al
times, and without hesitation p


Being forced by this direct question int
making a rejoinder, Geraldine answered in
constrained tone of voice, and without meet
ing his eye :.


II have no fear, my lord, that shall b.