The burning current in my veins was cooling,--a chill, benumbing sense of injustice and injury was settling on every feeling. I looked in his face, and its classic beauty vanished, even its lineaments seemed changed, the illusion of love was passing away; with indescribable horror I felt this; it was like the opening of a deep, dark abyss. Take away my love for Ernest, and what would be left of life? Darkness--despair--annihilation. I thought not, recked not then of his lost love for me; I only dreaded ceasing to love _him_, dreaded that congelation of the heart more terrible than death. "Where is the note?" he asked suddenly. "Show me the warrant for this secret meeting." "I destroyed it." Again a thunder-gust swept over his countenance. I ought to have kept it, I ought to have anticipated a moment like this, but my judgment was obscure by fear. "You destroyed it!" "Yes; and well might I dread a disclosure which has brought on a scene so humbling to us both. Let it not continue; you have heard from me nothing but plain and holy truth; I have nothing to say in my defence. Had I acted differently, you yourself would despise and condemn me." "Had you come to me as you ought to have done, asking my counsel and assistance, I would have met the wretch who sought to beguile you; I would have detected the imposter, if you indeed believed the tale; I would have saved you from the shame of a public exposure, and myself the misery, the tortures of this hour." "Did he not threaten your life and his own? Did he not appeal to me in the most solemn and awful manner not to betray him?" "You might have known the man who urged you to deceive your husband to be a villain." "Alas! alas! I know him to be a villain; and yet he is my father." "He is not your father! I know he is not. I would swear it before a court of justice. I would swear it before the chancery of the skies!" "Would to heaven that your words were true. Would to heaven my being were not derived from such a polluted source. But I know too well that he _is_ my father; and that he has entailed on me everlasting sorrow. You admit, that if he is an impostor, I was myself deceived. You recall your fearful accusation." "My God!" he exclaimed, clasping his hands, and looking wildly upwards, "I know not what to believe. I would give worlds, were they mine, for the sweet confidence forever lost! The cloud was passing away from my soul. Sunshine, hope, love, joy, were there. I was wrapped in the dreams of Elysium! Why have you so cruelly awakened me? If you had deceived me once, why not go on; deny the accusation; fool, dupe me,--do any thing but convince me that where I have so blindly worshipped, I have been so treacherously betrayed."