"I have no doubt it would make all the difference in the world. Even your first statement is doubtful, I fear. I don't think seven years is a sacred period that would justify a second marriage." "I didn't say seven, sir, for certain. Six or seven." "That is of little importance. The presumption is, that if he has heard nothing of her for a long period she must be dead; but of course, if he has heard of her existence----" "But dead to him, oh, dead to him!" cried Lizzie, "leading a dreadful life, not a woman he could ever touch, or so much as look at again." "I am afraid," said the rector, shaking his head, "though it is a very hard case for him, that there is nothing to be done. He should try and get a divorce--but that is a serious business. I don't know what else there is in his power." "Would he be punished for it, sir?" "It is not so much the punishment to him. In a hard case like this, the circumstances would be very much taken into consideration. Very likely it would be only a nominal punishment. The fatal consequences are not to the man, but to the woman---- I mean the second wife." "But she knows nothing about it, sir. Why should she be punished? It's no doing of hers. She don't know." "Then, my good girl, you should warn her. Though she knows nothing about it, and is quite innocent, it is upon her chiefly that the consequences will fall. She will not be his wife at all; her children, if she has any, will be illegitimate. She will have no claim upon him, if he should happen to be a bad fellow. In short, if she was married, even as Miss Warrender is going to be to-morrow, by a bishop, Lizzie, it would be simply no marriage at all." Lizzie uttered a wild exclamation, clasping her hands--and said, "Oh, sir, is there anything that a woman that wishes her well could do?" "There is only one thing you can do: to warn her before it is too late. Tell her she must break it off if it were at the last moment--if it were at the very altar. She must not be allowed to sacrifice herself in ignorance. I'll see her myself, if that will do any good." "She's going to be married to-morrow," cried Lizzie breathlessly. "Oh, sir, don't deceive me! there's not a creature that knows about it, not one--and she the least of all. Oh, Mr. Wilberforce, how could any judge or jury, or any one, have the heart to punish _her_?" "Neither judge nor jury, my poor girl: but the law which says a man must not marry another woman while his first wife is living. There are many even who will not allow of a divorce in any circumstances; but I am not so sure of that. Tell me who this poor girl is, and I will do my best to warn her while there is time." Lizzie rose up and sat down again, in nervous excitement She made a hall of her handkerchief and pressed it alternately to each of her wet eyes. "Oh, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do!" she cried.