As Amabel took leave of him for the night, he dismissed her with coldness; and though he bestowed his customary blessing upon her, the look that accompanied it was not such as it used to be.
On the following day things continued in the same state.

The grocer was cold and inscrutable, and his wife, fearing he was meditating some severe course against Amabel, and aware of his inflexible nature, if a resolution was once formed, shook off her habitual awe, and thus addressed him: "I fear you have not forgiven our daughter.

Be not too hasty in your judgment.

However culpable she may appear, she has been as much deceived as yourself." "It may be so," replied Bloundel.

"Still she has acted with such indiscretion that I can never place confidence in her again, and without confidence affection is as nought.