'For God's sake do not send me from you,' and coming into the room she knelt down beside his chair.

'I know you are suffering, Alaric; do let me do something for you.' He longed to tell her everything.

He panted to share his sorrows with one other bosom; to have one near him to whom he could speak openly of everything, to have one counsellor in his trouble.

In that moment he all but resolved to disclose everything to her, but at last he found that he could not do it.

Charley was there waiting for his dinner; and were he now to tell his secret to his wife, neither of them, neither he nor she, would be able to act the host or hostess.