Dr. Lacey, of course, insisted upon her staying.  She knew he would, and sitting down, she busied herself in looking over the contents of her portfolio.  Suddenly she heaved a deep sigh, and Dr. Lacey looked up just in time to see her wipe something from her eyes, or pretend to, which must have been tears.  At the same time she hastily thrust a paper back into her portfolio, which she immediately shut.

“What is the matter?” asked Dr. Lacey.  “For whom was that sigh and those tears?”

“For poor Fan,” answered Julia.  “I have accidently found a part of an old journal, which she kept while Mr. Wilmot was living.”

“May I see it?” asked Dr. Lacey.

Julia seemed at first reluctant, but finally replied, “Perhaps it will be as well to let you do so, for you may then judge more kindly of Fanny”; and she placed in his hands the soiled sheets of paper which we saw in her room.

Leaning back she watched him while he read.  As we have as much right to read Fanny’s journal as Dr. Lacey, we will here give a few brief extracts: 

April—­“Cease your wild beatings, my heart.  Mr. Wilmot is promised to Julia.  He will never be mine, but nought can prevent my loving him; ay, forever and ever.”

August 1st—­“I do not believe I am indifferent to Mr. Wilmot, but he will be true to his vows—­he will wed Julia; and this doctor that bothers me so, what of him?  Why, he is wealthy, and high, and handsome—­but I do not love him; yet if he offers himself I shall say yes, for, as Mrs. Carrington says, ‘he is a great catch.’”

Sept. 5—­“Mr. Wilmot is dead, and with him died my poor, poor heart.  Had he lived, he possibly might have turned to me, for Julia knew how much I loved him.  Dear, generous Julia, how I wish Dr. Lacey would love her, for she is more worthy of him than I am.”

Jan. 1—­“Heigh ho, I’m engaged to Dr. Lacey!  Who would think it?  Now I am happy!  Oh, no.  Out in the graveyard lies one who could have made me happy.  Ought I thus to deceive Dr. Lacey?  Why, yes; if he is satisfied, it is well enough.  I am ambitious, and if I can’t marry for love, I will for money.  And then he’s given me so beautiful a piano.  Oh, I hope he’ll send me more presents after he gets home!”

Jan. 15—­“Dr. Lacey has gone and I feel relieved.  But just think of it—­Julia loves him devotedly.  I wish he knew it.  She has always loved him and tries to make me do the same.  She read me a sermon today two hours long about my duty.  Fudge on my duty!  As long as I can make Joshua and Dr. Lacey think I’m all sunshine, it’s no matter if my love is all moonshine.”

This journal was interspersed here and there with tears, and was so exact an imitation of Fanny’s writing that Dr. Lacey was completely duped.  He, however, wondered that Julia should show it to him.  She had foreseen this, and as he was reading the last few lines she was looking over her portfolio.  Suddenly springing up, she snatched the paper from his hands, saying, “Oh, what have I done?  I’ve shown you the wrong part of the journal.  I did not mean you to see this.  What shall I do?  You’ll hate Fanny and despise me.”