“No, mamma, he has not; but—­but—­I am to see him again to-morrow, and until then, mamma, do not ask me anything upon the subject of our interview to-day.”

Her mother felt rather gratified at this.  There was, then, to be another interview, and that was a proof that Woodward had not been finally discarded.  So far, matters did not seem so disheartening as she had anticipated.  She looked upon Alice’s agitation, and the tears she had been shedding, as the result of the constraint which she had put upon her inclination in giving him, she hoped, a favorable reception; and with this impression she went to communicate what she conceived to be the good intelligence to her husband.

Alice, until the next interview took place, passed a wretched time of it.  As the reader knows, she was constitutionally timid and easily alarmed, and she consequently anticipated, something very distressing in the disclosures which Woodward was about to make.  That there was something uncommon and painful in connection with Charles Lindsay to be mentioned, was quite evident from Woodward’s language and his unaccountable agitation.  He was evidently in earnest; and, from the suddenness with which the confession of her attachment to his brother came upon him, it was impossible, she concluded, that he could have had time to concoct the hints which he threw out.  Could she have been mistaken in Charles?  And yet, why not?  Had he not, as it were, abandoned her ever since the occurrence of the family feud? and why should he have done so unless there had been some reason for it?  It was quite clear, she thought, that, whatever revelation Woodward was about to make concerning him, it was one which would occasion himself great pain as his brother, and that nothing but the necessity of saving her from unhappiness could force him to speak out.  In fact, her mind was in a tumult; she felt quite nervous—­tremulous—­afraid of some disclosure that might destroy her hopes and her happiness, and make her wretched for life.

On the next day Woodward made his appearance and found Alice by herself in the drawing-room, as when he left her the day before.  His countenance seemed the very exponent of suffering and misery.

“Miss Goodwin,” said he, “I have passed a period of the deepest anxiety since I saw you last.  You may, indeed, read what I have suffered, and am suffering, in my face, for unfortunately it is a tell-tale upon my heart; but I cannot help that, nor should I wish it to be otherwise.  Believe me, however, that it is not for myself that I suffer, but for you, and the prospects of your future happiness.  You must look upon my conduct now as perfectly disinterested, for I have no hope.  What, then, should that conduct be in me as a generous man, which I trust I am, but to promote your happiness as far as I can? and on that I am determined.  You say you love my brother; are you certain that your affection is reciprocated?”

“I believe your brother certainly did love me,” she replied, with a tremor in her voice, which she could not prevent,