Yet I promised that girl just as distinctly; and then coolly broke my word, as if doing so were rather smart conduct than a mean action, for which the poor victim herself, encumbered with a child, and not I, had really to pay the penalty, in spite of certain pecuniary aid that was given.

There, that's the retrospective trouble that I am always unearthing; and you may hardly believe that though so many years have elapsed, and it is all gone by and done with, and she must be getting on for an old woman now, as I am for an old man, it really often destroys my sense of self-respect still.' 'O, I can understand it.

All depends upon the temperament.

Thousands of men would have forgotten all about it; so would you, perhaps, if you had married and had a family.

Did she ever marry ?' 'I don't think so.