He was always affecting a courage in which he felt himself to be deficient.

Every smile was false.

Every brave word spoken was an attempt at deceit.

When alone in his walks,--and he was mostly alone,--his mind would fix itself on his great trouble, and on the crushing sorrow which might only too probably fall upon that loved one whom he had called his wife.

Oh, with what regret now did he think of the good advice which the captain had given him on board the Goldfinder, and of the sententious, timid wisdom of Mrs.Callender! Had she,--his Hester, ever uttered to him one word of reproach,--had she ever shuddered in his sight when he had acknowledged that the now odious woman had in that distant land been in his own hearing called by his own name,--it would have been almost better.