trouble for him out of this; I'll stop his marrying for him; there will be scandal, and there will have to be investigations and witnesses, and goings and comings; and before it's half over, no one can tell what mayn't happen. I'm sorry for her; I am indeed. But I must have my revenge on him.'

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'Besides, you know,' Charlton said slowly, he is your husband, Philip Vanthorpe. You could not let him marry another woman while you were living.'

He spoke in so peculiar a tone that Paulina looked suddenly at him with a suspicious gleam in her eyes.

'Of course I can't let him marry another woman; and I don't mean to. I dare say they would pay me to drop the whole thing, but I'm not going to do anything of the kind; I want revenge.'

'Suppose they were to steal a march on you and get married?"

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Paulina jumped up from her chair with passion flaming in her looks. I wish you wouldn't say such things!' she said. They can't do it, and they shan't! Didn't I tell you I would go to the church and denounce them and stop it up? I should like that of all things.'

After all,' Charlton said meditatively, 'I don't know that it wouldn't be better for you to let them get married. You could prosecute him then for bigamy.'

'Don't bother me about your bigamies. That ain't my game. I want to keep them unmarried. I don't care about your prosecutions. I tell you they shan't marry. And now don't annoy me any more with your talk of that kind, there's a good fellow, or I may lose my temper.'

She sat down again.

'Well,' Charlton said, 'I only called in to-night to say that I am promised some news to-morrow. Something is going to be resolved on, I am told. I believe it is pretty certain that he and Major Leven are going out to New Orleans together.'

Oh, capital!' Paulina exclaimed, clapping her hands; just the thing I am glad to hear. There's the marriage broke off for goodness knows how long. The voyage out and the hunting up of proofs and evidences and things, and all the delays, and then the coming back-Lord! it will take six months at the very

least; and who can tell what may happen between this and then?'

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Just so,' Charlton assented; who can say what may happen between this and then? Between this and then? Who can say what may happen tomorrow?'

'This is good news you bring me, Charlton, if it only turns out to be true.'

'I believe it is true; I am told positively that they are going out together to New Orleans. Anyhow, I shall know for certain to-morrow. I shall come and let you know at once.'

'That's a dear good fellow; I shall be wild with anxiety. When shall I expect you?'

'Let me see.' He stopped and considered.

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Twelve o'clock I shall probably be able to leave that place,' he did not say what place, and I shall come straight to you. Oh, well, let us say one o'clock. I shall have the news for you at one o'clock to-morrow.'

All right. I'll stay in bed until late. I shall only get up in time to see you at one o'clock. I think when one is expecting anything, one doesn't mind the anxiety of waiting so much when one is in bed.'

At one o'clock, then,' he said, 'I'll bring you the news. At one o'clock, mind. We shall know for certain then.'

There was something odd about his manner. 'I can't quite make out that chap,' Paulina said, when he

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had gone. Anyhow, I shall be glad to see him at one o'clock to-morrow."

211

CHAPTER XII.

THE FAIR PENITENT.

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THE day for which Paulina was looking out, the tomorrow' of her last evening's conversation, came with wonderful softness and brightness. So clear was the sky, that one might see at the far end of long London thoroughfares the faint outlines of gentle hills and uplands of which he had not before suspected the existence. If he happened to be looking south from any point of tolerable elevation, he was sometimes amazed to see the Crystal Palace standing out on the shoulder of its hill as clearly as if it were just under his eyes. The sunlight had something magical in its soft intensity. It was so gentle one might look it straight in the face, and so bright that it lit up lanes and crannies that always before seemed too darksome to admit any genial influence. Just the very morning,