her multifarious duties; but the evil done by that loud high-pitched voice was as surely effected, and its baneful influence on the listener’s mind was as great and fatal, as though the most inexcusable deed of injustice and cruelty had been then and there by John’s hasty-tempered parent committed. Rising in a sitting posture on her bed, Honor, with shaking fingers, pushed the hair back from her aching forehead, and repeating to herself more than once, as if in excuse for her premeditated sin, that she could not, could not bear her life at Updown, she slowly slid down her feet upon the floor, and (half mechanically at first) commenced her preparations for departure. For departure? Yes; but to what place, and with what ulterior end, she knew not. All she cared for was escape--escape from the sight and sound of the woman who had always hated her, and who, as Honor firmly believed, had begun to undermine her husband’s love and trust, and would eventually succeed in turning his heart against her. To live any longer under the same roof with one who had accused her of the vilest sin--who had reproached her in the coarsest terms, for acts of which she was utterly incapable--was, as Honor kept repeating to herself, more than she could endure. _More_ unhappy, the foolish child believed she could not be. It might be hard, trying at first, and humiliating, to work as a servant, or in other ways, for her bread; but anything, to her then thinking, was better than her present life; and Arthur Vavasour--(it is to be feared that, innocent though in truth she was, that young gentleman played rather a conspicuous part in the programme of her future plans)--Arthur Vavasour would be ever at hand to aid, advise, and encourage her. On one subject only did Honor from the first, and wholly without reservation, make up her disturbed and rather bewildered mind. She would not, under any circumstances, take refuge under her father’s roof. That John would immediately commence the strictest search to discover her whereabouts Honor was well assured, and therefore it was above all things necessary for the preservation of her secret, that in Stanwick-street they should know positively nothing of her proceedings.