And what was his reception?
"Found your way home at last!" These were the words with which Cara received her husband; and they were spoken in a sharp, deriding tone of voice.

The day's doubt, suspense, and suffering, had not quieted the evil spirit in her heart.
She was angry with her husband, and could not restrain its expression.
A bitter retort trembled on the tongue of Ellis; but he checked its utterance, and, turning from his wife, took one of his children in his arms.

The sphere of innocence that surrounded the spirit of that child penetrated his heart, and touched his feelings with an emotion of tenderness.
"Oh, wretched man that I am!" he sighed, in the bitterness of a repentant and self-upbraiding spirit.

"So much dependent on me, and yet as weak as a reed swaying in the wind." How much that weak, tempted, suffering man, just trembling on the brink of destruction, needed a true-hearted, forbearing, long-suffering wife! Such a one might--yes, would--have saved him.

By the strong cords of love she would have held him to her side.
Several times Ellis tried to interest Cara in conversation; but to every remark she replied only in monosyllables.