"I shall never forget that scene, nor the distress, nor the fortitude of her I am proud to call my daughter." Grace put her hands before her face at these kind words, and he saw the tears trickle between her white fingers.

He began to wonder, and to feel uneasy.

But the brave girl shook off her tears, and manned herself, if we may use such an expression.
"Then, sir," said she, slowly and emphatically, though quietly, "did you not think it strange that I should say to my father, 'I don't know ?' He asked me before you all, 'Are you a wife ?' Twice I said to my father--to him I thought was my father--'I don't know.' Can you account for that, sir ?" The Colonel replied, "I was so unable to account for it that I took Julia Clifford's opinion on it directly, as we were going home." "And what did she say ?" "Oh, she said it was plain enough.

The fellow had forbidden you to own the marriage, and you were an obedient wife; and, like women in general, strong against other people, but weak against one." "So that is a woman's reading of a woman," said Grace.

"She will sacrifice her honor, and her father's respect, and court the world's contempt, and sully herself for life, to suit the convenience of a husband for a few hours.