174 MADEMOISELLE ANGELA.

perhaps had driven them to crime through his
falsehood.

“* Edward,” said she sternly to him, on his return,
‘why have you dealt treacherously by me?”

He turned deadly pale, and sank in a chair. She
spread the letter before him.

“ Why have you deceived me ?” she asked, “ Oh,
Edward, that we should have lived thus long together
and you not have the candour to tell me the truth |”

He raised his eyes from the paper to her face, but
said not a word.

“You have done very unkindly by me,” said she,
“‘ and it is time now that we understood one another,
This is no light thing, Edward, it isa grave sin before
both God and man. To-morrow I leave you!”

He started up, and clasping both his hands toge-~
ther pressed them tight] y on his forehead, ‘ Leave
me !” repeated he, in a voice of heart-rending agony.

“Yes, Edward,” she said, with stern calmness,
“leave you, and seek out these unhappy relatives
whom you have cast off !”

“Angel of God!” exclaimed he, falling at her
feet ; “oh, that you could only look into my heart
—could have looked into it long ago—could have
known only the anguish I have endured— the punish-
ment which I have suffered.”

“* But,” said she, “you have let your father and
sister want—your own flesh and blood—and you,
yourself, have lived in ease and plenty! God
Almighty grant that the sorrow you have brought
upon your own parent may not be visited upon
you!”

She sank upon her knees beside her husband, and