`It never will vanish,' said I distinctly, `for it is the truth.'

`The truth!' he cried, starting as if an asp had stung him. `You don't mean to say that you are really she!'

`I do; but you needn't shrink away from me, as if I were your greatest enemy: I am come to take care of you, and do what none of them would do.'

`For God's sake, don't torment me now!' cried he in pitiable agitation; and then he began to mutter bitter curses against me, or the evil fortune that had brought me there; while I put down the sponge and basin, and resumed my seat at the bedside.

`Where are they?' said he `have they all left me--servants and all?'

`There are servants within call, if you want them; but you had better lie down now and be quiet: none of them could or would attend you as carefully as I shall do.'

`I can't understand it at all,' said he, in bewildered perplexity. `Was it a dream that `and he covered his eyes with his hand, as if trying to unravel the mystery.

`No Arthur, it was not a dream, that your conduct was such as to oblige me to leave you; but I heard that you were ill and alone, and I am come back to nurse you. You need not fear to trust me: tell me all your wants, and I will try to satisfy them. There is no one else to care for you; and I shall not upbraid you now.

`Oh! I see,' said he with a bitter smile, `it's an act of Christian charity, whereby you hope to gain a higher seat in Heaven for yourself, and scoop a deeper pit in hell for me.'

`No; I came to offer you that comfort and assistance your situation required; and if I could benefit your soul as well as your body, and awaken some sense of contrition and--' `Oh, yes; if you could overwhelm me with remorse and confusion of face,' now's the time. What have you done with my son?'

`He is well, and you may see him some time, if you will compose yourself, but not now.

`Where is he?'

`He is safe.'

`Is he here?'

`Wherever he is, you will not see him till you have promised to leave him entirely under my care and protection, and to let me take him away whenever and wherever I please, if I should hereafter judge it necessary to remove him again. But we will talk of that to-morrow: you must be quiet now.'

`No, let me see him now. I promise, if it must be so.

`No--'

`I swear it, as God is in Heaven! Now then, let me see him.'

`But I cannot trust your oaths and promises: I must have a written agreement, and you must sign it in presence of a witness--But not to-day, to-morrow.

`No, to-day--now,' persisted he: and he was in such a state of feverish excitement, and so bent upon the immediate gratification of his wish, that I thought it better to grant it at once, as I saw he would not rest till I did. But I was determined my son's interest should not be forgotten; and having clearly written out the promise I wished Mr. Huntingdon to give upon a slip of paper, I deliberately read it over to him, and