The formal intercourse of the tea-table having ended, Lee, feeling little inclined to pass the evening with his reserved and sober-looking partner, put on his hat, and merely remarking that he would not return until bed-time, left the house.  This act startled Kate.  With the jar of the closing door came a gush of tears.  The evening was passed alone.  How wretched she felt as the hours moved slowly on!

It was nearly eleven o’clock when Lee came home.  By that time, the mind of Kate was in an agony of suspense.  More than once the thought that he had abandoned her intruded itself, and filled her with fear and anguish.  What a relief to her feelings it was when she heard the rattle of his night-key in the lock!  But she could not meet him with a smile.  She could not throw her arms around his neck, and press her hot cheek to his.  No:  for she felt that he was angry with her without just cause, and had visited with unjust severity a light offence—­if, so far as she was concerned, her act were worthy to be called an offence.

And so they looked coldly upon each other when they met, and then averted their eyes.

The morning broke, but with no fairer promise of a sunny day.  Clouds obscured their whole horizon.  Coldly they parted after the brief and scarcely tasted meal.  How wretched they were!

During the forenoon, Mrs. Morton, the friend of Mrs. Lee, called in to see her young friend.

“Why, Kate!  What has happened?” she exclaimed, the moment she saw her.

Mrs. Lee tried to smile and look indifferent, as she answered—­

“Happened?  Why do you say that?”

“You look as if you hadn’t a friend left in the world!”

“And I don’t know that I have,” said Mrs. Lee, losing, all at once, her self-command, and permitting the ready tears to gush forth.

“Why, Kate, dear!” exclaimed Mrs. Morton, drawing her arm around the neck of her young friend.  “What is the meaning of all this?  Something wrong with Frederick?”

Kate was silent.

Mrs. Morton reflected for a moment, and then said—­

“Been trying to correct some of his faults, ha?”

No answer.  But the sobbing became less violent.

“Ah, Kate!  Kate!  I warned you of this.”

“Warned me of what?”

Mrs. Lee lifted her head, and tried to assume an air of dignity as she spoke.

“I warned you that Frederick would not bear it, if you attempted to lay your hand upon his faults.”

Kate raised her head higher, and compressed her lips.  Still she did not answer.

“A young husband, naturally enough, thinks himself faultless—­at least in the eyes of his wife.”

“Very far from faultless is Frederick in my eyes,” said Kate.  “My love is not blind, and so I told him.”

“You did!”

“Yes, I did, and in so many words,” replied Kate, with spirit.

“Ah, silly child!” returned her friend.  “Already you have the reward of your folly.  I forewarned you how it would be.”