“No, not rest, Hannah! no one can rest in fire! and reproach is fire to me! but I can bear it, knowing it to be undeserved!  For, Hannah, even when I stood shriveling in the blaze of that lady’s presence, the feeling of innocence, deep in my heart, kept me from death! for I think, Hannah, if I had deserved her reproaches I should have dropped, blackened, at her feet!  Dear sister, I am very sorry I told you anything about it.  Only I have never kept anything from you, and so the force of habit and my own swelling heart that overflowed with trouble made me do it.  Be patient now, Hannah!  Say nothing to my dear husband of this.  In two days the lady and her daughters will be in Washington.  Herman will take us home, acknowledge me and write to his mother.  There will then be no outbreak; both will command their tempers better when they are apart!  And there will be nothing said or done that need make an irreparable breach between the mother and son, or between her and myself.  Promise me, Hannah, that you will say nothing to Herman about it to-morrow!”

“I promise you, Nora; but only because the time draws so very near when you will be acknowledged without any interference on my part.”

“And now, dear sister, about you and Reuben.  Have you told him of Mr. Brudenell’s offer?”

“Yes, dear.”

“And he will accept it?”

“Yes.”

“And when shall you be married?”

“The very day that you shall be settled in your new home, dear.  We both thought that best.  I do not wish to go to Brudenell, Nora.  Nothing can ever polish me into a fine lady; so I should be out of place there even for a day.  Besides it would be awkward on account of the house-servants, who have always looked upon me as a sort of companion, because I have been their fellow-laborer in busy times.  And they would not know how to treat me if they found me in the drawing-room or at the dinner-table!  With you it is different; you are naturally refined!  You have never worked out of our own house; you are their master’s wife, and they will respect you as such.  But as for me, I am sure I should embarrass everybody if I should go to Brudenell.  And, on the other hand, I cannot remain here by myself.  So I have taken Reuben’s advice and agreed to walk with him to the church the same hour that Mr. Brudenell takes you home.”

“That will be early Sunday morning.”

“Yes, dear!”

“Well, God bless you, best of mother-sisters!  May you have much happiness,” said Nora, as she raised herself from Hannah’s knees to prepare for rest.

CHAPTER VIII.

END OF THE SECRET MARRIAGE.

  Upon her stubborn brow alone
  Nor ruth nor mercy’s trace is shown,
    Her look is hard and stern.

  —­Scott.