She, who can see that cats are harmless, shudders and turns pale, for all that, if a cat is in the same room with her.

Set my senseless horror of dark people against her senseless horror of cats--and say which of us has the right to be angry with the other ?'" Such was the quotation from Lucilla's letter to her father.

At the end of it, Oscar resumed, as follows:-- "I wonder whether you will now understand me, if I own to you that I have made the worst of my case in writing to Lucilla?
It is the only excuse I can produce for not joining her in London.

Weary as I am of our long separation, I cannot prevail on myself to run the risk of meeting her in the presence of strangers, who would instantly notice my frightful color, and betray it to her.

Think of her shuddering and starting back from my hand when it took hers! No! no! I must choose my own opportunity, in this quiet place, of telling her what (I suppose) must be told--with time before me to prepare her mind for the disclosure (if it must come), and with nobody but you near to see the first mortifying effect of the shock which I shall inflict on her.
"I have only to add, before I release you, that I write these lines in the strictest confidence.