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Easter was now fast approaching, andFitzhenry announced to Emmeline hisintention of going out of town for a fortnight,—butnot to Arlingford—And heconcluded by saying, that, of course, he2supposed she would like to pass thetime with her father at Charlton.

At any other time, and under anyother circumstances, how gladly wouldshe have availed herself of the opportunityof returning to her former, peaceful,happy home! But, like a sickperson, her feverish mind had for sometime past dwelt on Arlingford. Shelonged to find herself again there, forthere, they must meet—there they mightbe alone! and she could not help hopingfor some explanation between them,which might make her, at least, lessmiserable. Fitzhenry’s manner towardsher had of late changed: it had nolonger the ease of indifference, the coldnessof mere civility; but, alas! it hadonly changed to apparent dislike, or atleast displeasure. He observed her3more; but his observations seemed alwaysto prejudice him still more againsther.

And yet, what could she do? or whatleave undone? She had tried all meansto please him, and all had failed. Shefirst had followed the dictates of her ownheart, and then, relying on Pelham’sknowledge of her husband’s character,and on his advice, she had played apart most unnatural to her—that of agay, unfeeling woman of the world,when her heart was breaking. All, inturn, seemed to be wrong.

For an instant, a horrid thought hadcrossed her mind. Could Pelham bedeceiving her? Could he, for any view,either of his own, or Fitzhenry’s, be endeavouringto draw her on to what waslowering her still more in her husband’s...