word for word and look for look; and sometimes, when sorrow had spent itself, and the heart could bleed no more, vain grief had given place to vainer speculation, and I had cudgelled my wakeful brains for the meaning of the new and subtle horror which I had read in my darling’s eyes at the last. Now I understood; and the one explanation brought such a tribe in its train, that even the perilous ecstasy of the present moment was temporarily forgotten in the horrible past.
“Now I know why they wouldn’t have me in the gig! ” I cried softly.
He interrupted me with his jovial laugh.
“My good fellow,” he cried, “that’s the fun of it! How do you suppose I’ve been spending the day? Told you I was going to Lancaster, did I? Well, I’ve been cooking our dinner instead - laying the table - getting up the wines - never had such a joke! Give you