Fred looked astonished and remained silent.  He did not suspect the state of her heart.

“It would be unmaidenly,” she continued, with a slight air of vexation to think that Fred remained cool, “for me to speak plainer, and if you cannot solve my meaning I must remain silent.”

“I don’t think that I understand you distinctly,” my friend said, his face slightly flushing under a suspicion of her meaning.

“Do you wish to comprehend me?” she said, and her face was cast down while she asked the question.

Fred hesitated for a moment, and only for a moment.  He glanced towards me and saw that I was watching the struggle that was going on in his mind, and his decision was instantly formed.

“We must not pursue this subject further,” he said.  “Believe me, it is better that we should not; for the sake of Mr. Herrets, and your own sake, do not ask me more questions.”

“One word,” she cried, hurriedly, as Fred turned away, and it seemed as though she could no longer control her emotion; “do you wish me to marry that man?” she demanded, with an earnestness that showed how much she had at stake.

“I do,” he answered; and without waiting for another question he joined us.

The girl turned deadly pale, and for a few seconds was silent; but she rallied at length, and signified that she was ready to vow to love and cherish a man that I knew she had already commenced hating in her heart, and looked upon as the author of her misery.  The clergyman, who was impatient to get his dinner, soon united the parties, and we saluted the bride.

“Let me go,” she exclaimed, as her husband folded her in his rough embrace and covered her face with kisses.  “Let me go, for I stifle in this place.”

“Take your wife home,” I said, “and be a kind husband to her.  She will need all your care and attention.”

They left the store, and I breathed a sigh of gratitude at the result.  Fred’s face, however, looked black and threatening, as though he was not entirely satisfied with his course.

“We have played a mean part in that marriage,” he said, at length, “and I don’t feel that I have acted justly.  The girl detests her husband, and you know it.”

“Of course I do,” I replied, with great nonchalance; “but that is something she will outgrow in a few days, and if she does not he alone is to blame.”

“I am not so sure of that,” he replied, gloomily.

“Neither am I, but it will not affect your position or mine.  We have done the best that we could, under the circumstances, to keep her honest, and I will ask you, in all candor, if she would have been virtuous ten days from hence had she lived under this roof?”

He did not answer me, but lighted his pipe and puffed away in silence.

“The girl liked you,” I continued, “and you at length discovered it.  She is not a suitable wife for you, and I think too highly of your honor to suppose that you would blast her prospects for life and make her your mistress.  Your residence here is short, and when you felt disposed to return home, would you desire to present the girl to your friends as a specimen of Australian beauty?  Come, Fred, consider all things, and remember that you cannot accuse yourself of her ruin, even if she is not disposed to remain with her husband.”