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in you for some time past。 Tell me all about it。〃
She turned quickly round and gazed at me with eyes wide open and
face filled with a sudden fear。 〃Why do you ask me that； Mark？〃
she answered。 〃I have nothing to tell。〃
From the strange； startled manner in which this reply was given； I
felt convinced that she had something to tell； and instantly formed
a determination to discover what it was。 A pang shot through my
heart as I thought that the woman whom I held dearer than anything
on earth hesitated to trust me with a petty secret。
I believed I understood。 I was tolerably rich。 I knew it could
not be any secret over milliners' bills or women's usual money
troubles。 God help me！ I felt sad enough at the moment； though I
kissed her back and ceased to question her。 I felt sad； because my
instinct told me that she deceived me； and it is very hard to be
deceived； even in trifles； by those we love。 I left her sitting at
her favorite window； and walked out into the fields。 I wanted to
think。
I remained out until I saw lights in the parlor shining through the
dusky evening； then I returned slowly。 As I passed the windows
which were near the ground； our house being cottage…builtI looked
in。 Hammond Brake was sitting with my wife。 She was sitting in a
rocking chair opposite to him； holding a small volume open on her
lap。 Brake was talking to her very earnestly； and she was
listening to him with an expression I had never before seen on her
countenance。 Awe； fear； and admiration were all blent together in
those dilating eyes。 She seemed absorbed； body and soul； in what
this man said。 I shuddered at the sight。 A vague terror seized
upon me； I hastened into the house。 As I entered the room rather
suddenly； my wife started and hastily concealed the little volume
that lay on her lap in one of her wide pockets。 As she did so； a
loose leaf escaped from the volume and slowly fluttered to the
floor unobserved by either her or her companion。 But I had my eye
upon it。 I felt that it was a clew。
〃What new novel or philosophical wonder have you both been poring
over？〃 I asked quite gayly； stealthily watching at the same time
the telltale embarrassment under which Elsie was laboring。
Brake； who was not in the least discomposed； replied。 〃That；〃 said
he； 〃is a secret which must be kept from you。 It is an advance
copy； and is not to be shown to anyone except your wife。〃
〃Ha！〃 cried I； 〃I know what it is。 It is your volume of poems that
Ticknor is publishing。 Well； I can wait until it is regularly for
sale。〃
I knew that Brake had a volume in the hands of the publishing house
I mentioned； with a vague promise of publication some time in the
present century。 Hammond smiled significantly； but did not reply。
He evidently wished to cultivate this supposed impression of mine。
Elsie looked relieved； and heaved a deep sigh。 I felt more than
ever convinced that a secret was beneath all this。 So I drew my
chair over the fallen leaf that lay unnoticed on the carpet； and
talked and laughed with Hammond Brake gayly； as if nothing was on
my mind； while all the time a great load of suspicion lay heavily
at my heart。
At length Hammond Brake rose to go。 I wished him good night； but
did not offer to accompany him to the door。 My wife supplied this
omitted courtesy； as I had expected。 The moment I was alone I
picked up the book leaf from the floor。 It was NOT the leaf of a
volume of poems。 Beyond that； however； I learned nothing。 It
contained a string of paragraphs printed in the biblical fashion；
and the language was biblical in style。 It seemed to be a portion
of some religious book。 Was it possible that my wife was being
converted to the Romish faith？ Yes； that was it。 Brake was a
Jesuit in disguiseI had heard of such thingsand had stolen into
the bosom of my family to plant there his destructive errors。
There could be no longer any doubt of it。 This was some portion of
a Romish booksome infamous Popish publication。 Fool that I was
not to see it all before！ But there was yet time。 I would forbid
him the house。
I had just formed this resolution when my wife entered。 I put the
strange leaf in my pocket and took my hat。
〃Why； you are not going out； surely？〃 cried Elsie； surprised。
〃I have a headache；〃 I answered。 〃I will take a short walk。〃
Elsie looked at me with a peculiar air of distrust。 Her woman's
instinct told her that there was something wrong。 Before she could
question me； however； I had left the room and was walking rapidly
on Hammond Brake's track。
He heard the footsteps； and I saw his figure； black against the
sky； stop and peer back through the dusk to see who was following
him。
〃It is I； Brake；〃 I called out。 〃Stop； I wish to speak with you。〃
He stopped； and in a minute or so we were walking side by side
along the road。 My fingers itched at that moment to be on his
throat。 I commenced the conversation。
〃Brake；〃 I said； 〃I'm a very plain sort of man； and I never say
anything without good reason。 What I came after you to tell you
is； that I don't wish you to come to my house any more； or to speak
with Elsie any farther than the ordinary salutations go。 It's no
joke。 I'm quite in earnest。〃
Brake started； and； stopping short； faced me suddenly in the road。
〃What have I done？〃 he asked。 〃You surely are too sensible a man
to be jealous； Dayton。〃
〃Oh；〃 I answered scornfully； 〃not jealous in the ordinary sense of
the word； a bit。 But I don't think your company good company for
my wife； Brake。 If you WILL have it out of me； I suspect you of
being a Roman Catholic； and of trying to convert my wife。〃
A smile shot across his face； and I saw his sharp white teeth gleam
for an instant in the dusk。
〃Well； what if I am a Papist？〃 he said； with a strange tone of
triumph in his voice。 〃The faith is not criminal。 Besides； what
proof have you that I was attempting to proselyte your wife？〃
〃This；〃 said I； pulling the leaf from my pocket〃this leaf from
one of those devilish Papist books you and she were reading this
evening。 I picked it up from the floor。 Proof enough； I think！〃
In an instant Brake had snatched the leaf from my hand and torn it
into atoms。
〃You shall be obeyed；〃 he said。 〃I will not speak with Elsie as
long as she is your wife。 Good night。 You think I'm a Papist；
then； Dayton？ You're a clever fellow！〃
And with rather a sneering chuckle he marched on along the road and
vanished into the darkness。
II
THE SECRET DISCOVERED
Brake came no more。 I said nothing to Elsie about his prohibition；
and his name was never mentioned。 It seemed strange to me that she
should not speak of his absence； and I was very much puzzled by her
silence。 Her moodiness seemed to have increased； and； what was
most remarkable； in proportion as she grew more and more reserved