"I did everything in my power," she said, with touching plaintiveness, "to reconcile father and son. I made excuses for Frederick. I said, 'Perhaps Frederick is in debt; it troubles him; you are rich.' There was no occasion for me to say another word to such a generous gentleman as my husband. The very next day he told me that he had had a serious conversation with Frederick, who had confessed to him that he was deeply in debt. How much? Thousands. He showed me a list, but I scarcely looked at it. 'Shall I pay these debts?' my husband asked. 'Of course,' I replied; 'pay them immediately, and fill Frederick's pockets with money.' 'I have done that very thing,' said Mr. Holdfast, 'a dozen times already, and he has always promised me he would reform.' 'Never mind,' I said, 'perhaps he will keep his word this time. Pay his debts once more, and let us all live happily together.' That was my only wish--that we should all be friends, and that Frederick should have no excuse to reproach me for having married his father. The debts were paid, and Mr. Holdfast brought his son to me, and said to him 'Frederick, you have to thank this angel'--(pray, pray do not think I am saying a word that is not true! My husband was only too kind to me, and loved me so much that he would often pay me extravagant compliments)--'You have to thank this angel,' said Mr. Holdfast to his son, 'for what has been done this day. You can now hold up your head with honour. Let bye-gones be bye-gones. Kiss Mrs. Holdfast, and promise to turn over a new leaf.' I held out my cheek to him, and he looked at me coldly and turned away. I was scarlet with shame. Was it not enough to rouse a woman's animosity?--such treatment! But it did not rouse mine--no; I still hoped that things would come right. Mr. Holdfast did not relate to me the particulars of the interview between himself and his son, and I did not inquire. Why should I pry into a young man's secrets? And what right had I to do anything but try and make peace between my husband and my husband's son? Frederick had been wild, but so have plenty of other college men. Many of them have turned out well afterwards; I have heard of some who were very bad young men, and afterwards became Judges and Members of Parliament. Why should not Frederick do the same--why should he not reform, and become a Judge or a Member of Parliament? My great wish was that Mr. Holdfast should keep his son with him, and that Frederick should marry some good girl, and settle down. I had tried to bring it about. I had given parties, and had invited pretty girls; but Frederick seldom made his appearance at my assemblies, and when he did, stopped only for a few minutes. On the very evening of the day upon which my husband, at my intercession, paid Frederick's debts, I had a ball at my house. Is it wrong to be fond of parties and dancing? If it is, you will blame me very much, for I am very fond of dancing. With a good partner I