If I have any judgment respecting the plague, she is already infected." "Indeed!" cried Rochester--"then--" but he checked himself, and added, "I do not believe it.

Begone." "He _does_ believe it for all that," muttered Judith, as he slunk away.
Rochester returned to Amabel, and sat by her until she fell asleep, when he took the parchment from beneath the pillow where she had placed it.
Examining it, he found it, as Judith had stated, a certificate of his marriage, signed by Mark Vincent, the clergyman who had officiated, and duly attested.

Having carefully perused it, he held it towards the taper, with the intention of destroying it.

As he was about to perpetrate this unworthy action, he looked towards the bed.

The soft sweet smile that played upon the sleeper's features, turned him from his purpose.