“Wasn’t there a woman and child brought here last night?” said he, in an agitated manner.

“No, sir,” replied the girl; and, as she spoke, she made an attempt to close the door, seeing which, Mr. Lane thrust a part of his body in and prevented the movement.

“Are you certain?” he asked.

“I am,” was positively answered, while the girl strove to shut the door by forcing it against Mr. Lane.  At this moment something like a smothered cry from within reached his ears, when, throwing open the door with a sudden application of strength that prostrated the girl, he stepped over her body and entered the vestibule.  Just then there arose a wild cry for help!  He knew the voice; it came from one of the parlours, into which he rushed.  There he saw his wife struggling in the arms of a woman and a man, while his frightened child stood near, white and speechless with terror.  As he entered, Amanda saw him.

“Oh, my husband!” she exclaimed.  In a moment she was released, and the man and woman fled from the room, but not before the face of the former was fully recognised by Mr. Lane.

Little Mary had already sprung to her father, and was quivering and panting on his breast.

“Oh! take me away quickly—­quickly!” cried Mrs. Lane, staggering towards her husband and falling into his arms.

Without waiting for explanations, Mr. Lane went from the house with his wife and child, and, placing them in the carriage at the door, was driven to an hotel.

The reader doubtless understands the scene we have just described.  The man named Bond was in the act of carrying out his threat to remove Mrs. Lane to a chamber by force when her husband appeared.

Of all that passed between the severely-tried husband and wife after their meeting, it behooves us not to write.  The circumstances we have detailed were exceedingly painful to the parties most interested; but their effect, like the surgeon’s knife, was salutary.  Mr. Lane afterwards regarded his wife from an entirely different point of view, and found her a very different woman from what he had at first believed her to be.  He saw in her a strength of character and a clearness of intellect for which he had never given her credit; and, from looking down upon her as a child or an inferior, came to feel towards her as an equal.

His indignation at the treatment she had received in Philadelphia was extreme.  The man named Bond he knew very well, and he at first determined to call him to account personally; but as this would lead to a mortifying notoriety and exposure of the whole affair, he was reluctantly induced to keep silence.  Bond has never crossed his way since:  it might not be well for him to do so.

Some years have passed.  No one who meets Mr. and Mrs. Lane, at home or abroad, would dream that, at one time, they were driven asunder by a strong repulsion.  Few are more deeply attached, or happier in their domestic relations; but neither trespasses on the other’s rights, nor interferes with the other’s prerogative.  Mutual deference, confidence, respect, and love, unite them with a bond that cannot again be broken.