"When," she articulated faintly, for the nerve of a moment had passed away--"when you left me to-day, an hour elapsed in thoughts of you, all you Miles, and joy--that deep joy which reconciliation brings. I was aroused from this dream of peace and rest, after my recent sorrow, by a messenger who came, he said, with a letter from you, which you had given him on starting, and this letter bade me at once come to Uplands to rejoin you, placing myself under the care of this messenger; you had a project in view for our mutual happiness, and my presence was necessary; so, dear Miles, I did not delay a moment,"--here the long restrained tears overflowed her eyes at the calling of that gentle word on her lip--"but fearlessly quitted home, knowing your judgment must be best in all things for my benefit, I could not err in following your guidance," her full eye looked all its love on him as she spoke. "The letter," he said hoarsely, holding out a hand; he durst not take her, as he longed to do, to his heart, without this proof. "Are _you_ mad, or am _I_?" exclaimed the affrighted girl--his calmness awed her. "I have burned that letter, you know you bade me do so." "By heavens!" he laughed wildly, "your cold-hearted assurance proves you the most consummate deceiver in the world. Girl--woman--demon! I _never_ bade you come--I never wrote to you; and you _know_ I did not, but your paramour knew me safe here; and in safety lodged you here also. By heaven it was a bold, daring game, worthy a better cause!" How often, in our bitterest or most serious moments, some passage either ludicrous, or irreverent, will cross our minds; through his flitted the words of Iago,-- "She did deceive her father, marrying you!" "Yes," he continued, following the thought, "she deceived them all, cleverly and calmly; and what wonder I should follow?" "Oh!" cried Minnie, dropping on her knees and looking upwards; "if spirits in pain may summon their kindred from heaven, oh! my own dear mother, look on your orphan, and pity her; pray for her, mother dear--pray for her!" and, covering her face with her hands, she wept bitterly. There is not in the regions of darkness a blacker demon than jealousy; it brands all--perverts all. There was a time when a tear from Minnie would have torn his soul. Now he looked on, almost exultingly; he thought she was sorrowing for another. "Tremenhere, Tremenhere, open the door!" exclaimed Lord Randolph without, agitatedly--he heard a woman in tears. "For heaven's sake open the door, I will explain all!"