Irene wept bitterly at this strong representation, and trembled at thought of the danger she had escaped.

To her husband, when she was alone with him again, she confessed her fault, and prayed him to let the memory of it pass from his mind for ever.  On his part was the fullest denial of any purpose whatever, in the late misunderstanding, to bend her to his will.  He assured her that if he had dreamed of any serious objection on her part to the ride, he would not have urged it for a moment.  It involved no promised pleasure to him apart from pleasure to her; and it was because he believed that she would enjoy the drive that he had urged her to make one of the party.

All this was well, as far as it could go.  But repentance and mutual forgiveness did not restore everything to the old condition—­did not obliterate that one sad page in their history, and leave them free to make a new and better record.  If the folly had been in private, the effort at forgiving and forgetting would have been attended with fewer annoying considerations.  But it was committed in public, and under circumstances calculated to attract attention and occasion invidious remark.  And then, how were they to meet the different members of the wedding-party, which they had so suddenly thrown into consternation?

On the next day the anxious members of this party made their appearance at Ivy Cliff, not having, up to this time, received any intelligence of the fugitive bride.  Mr. Delancy did not attempt to excuse to them the unjustifiable conduct of his daughter, beyond the admission that she must have been temporarily deranged.  Something was said about resuming the bridal tour, but Mr. Delancy said, “No; the quiet of Ivy Cliff will yield more pleasure than the excitement of travel.”

And all felt this to be true.

CHAPTER VI.

AFTER THE STORM.

AFTER the storm.  Alas! that there should be a wreck-strewn shore so soon!  That within three days of the bridal morning a tempest should have raged, scattering on the wind sweet blossoms which had just opened to the sunshine, tearing away the clinging vines of love, and leaving marks of desolation which no dew and sunshine could ever obliterate!

It was not a blessed honeymoon to them.  How could it be, after what had passed?  Both were hurt and mortified; and while there was mutual forgiveness and great tenderness and fond concessions, one toward the other, there was a sober, (sic) thoughful state of mind, not favorable to happiness.

Mr. Delancy hoped the lesson—­a very severe one—­might prove the guarantee of future peace.  It had, without doubt, awakened Irene’s mind to sober thoughts—­and closer self-examination than usual.  She was convicted in her own heart of folly, the memory of which could never return to her without a sense of pain.