She seized Salome by the shoulders, and Mrs. Rochester lifting her by the feet, they bore her into their private parlor and laid her upon the lounge. Then Mrs. Rochester said that Dr. Winthrop must have his dinner or he would suspect that something was wrong. So she took the daintily arranged tray, which fortunately had not been disturbed, and carried it herself to his room, remarking that as Sister Angela appeared not very well, she had prevailed upon her to lie down, and allow her to take her place, and serve his dinner. Dr. Winthrop did not manifest any suspicion that all was not as represented, and thought it very kind of Mrs. Rochester to be so considerate of the nurse. Then she made her escape back to her own rooms as soon as possible, but found that Salome had not yet revived. Miss Rochester had made no effort to restore her. “Your future interests,” she resumed, as if that thought had been in her mind ever since her daughter suggested it. “Surely you do not expect to marry Dr. Winthrop after making this discovery.” “Why not?” Mrs. Rochester shrugged her shoulders, and made a significant grimace. “Bigamy,” was all the reply that she vouchsafed. Miss Rochester frowned at the disagreeable word. “It is probable that no one, save you and me, know of her existence, or rather her identity,” she remarked, after a thoughtful pause. “Well, what of that?” demanded her companion; “she can reveal herself whenever she chooses.” “That is the very thing I am afraid of; but there are places where people can have no communication with the outside world, and Paris is very prolific in such institutions,” said Miss Rochester, in a tone to make one’s flesh creep. “Sadie! you wouldn’t dare,” whispered her mother. “I would dare anything rather than lose all at this late day,” was the passionate retort. “But you couldn’t marry him even then—you know that would be absolutely impossible, even though she could be so securely shut away that she could never make her existence known,” returned Mrs. Rochester, decidedly. “Listen, mamma,” said the girl, imperiously, “I have set my heart on this marriage and the union of these two fortunes, and you know when I really make up my mind to anything I usually carry my point. Do you think that, after enjoying all the luxuries which this money buys for us, I am weakly going to surrender them? Can you live without your silks, satins, laces, jewels, horses, carriages; your servants, and the hundred other things you enjoy so much, and go back to the poverty you struggled with before you married a rich man? No, you cannot,” she went on, as her companion shivered over the picture, “but you know that we are to have only the interest of that paltry fifty thousand to use jointly if that contract is not fulfilled.” “But—but—think of Dr. Winthrop becoming a bigamist!” “I do not intend that Dr. Winthrop shall become a bigamist,” calmly responded the young lady.