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"What has he done to you to ainst him?"

"Bitter! Oh, that word is poor and pitiful to express what I feel when

his na and hatred come a little nearer the

mark, but even they are weak to express the utter--the--" She stopped in

a sort of white passion that choked her very words

"They told me he was your husband," insinuated Sir Norman, unutterably

repelled

"Did they?" she said, with a cold sneer, "he is, too--at least as far as

church and state can make him; but I am no more his wife at heart than

I am Satan's Truly of the two I should prefer the latter, for then I

should be wedded to soel; as it is, I have

the honor to be wife to a devil who never was an angel?"

At this shocking statement Sir Norman looked helplessly round, as if

for relief; and Miranda, after a h

"Of all the pictures of ugliness you ever saw or heard of, Sir Norsley, do tell usting as that thing?"

"Really," said Sir Nor little man in the world; but, madame, you do look and

speak in a manner quite dreadful Do let me prevail on you to calm

yourself, and tell me your story, as you proentle lady, in a tone half snappish, half

harsh, "do you think I am made of iron, to tell you my story and be

calm? I hate him! I hate him! I would kill him if I could: and if you,

Sir Norman, are half the man I take you to be, you will rid the world of

the horribledawns!"

"My dear lady, you see to rid the world of h

"No, not if you do as I tell you; and when I have told you how ree withhim will

be no murder! Oh, if there is One above who rules this world, and will

judge us all, hy does He permit such monsters to live?"

"Because He is more merciful than his creatures," replied Sir Nor hand is heavy on this doo, and the headsman will be here