It will be a handsome home, but I hope and believe that we shall be as content with our love-nest of a cottage.” Jessie did not look around as her sister refolded the letter, tucked it into the en velope, and laid it upon the taVle. But while each believed herself to be separated from the other by a fathomless gulf of memories, every one of which was an anguish, both were pondering the same sec tion of the epistle that lay between them. The announcement of Wyllys’ approaching fmarriage was, in itself, nothing to the wife. The thought of it had lost the power to wound when she parted with her faith in him. The wrong he had done her could never be forgiven ; ‘ he had misled her pur posely ; deceived her cruelly ; had robbed her life of love and hope, and given her self contempt and remorse in their stead. But she did not regret him—as she now knew him to be—or linger fondly upon recollec tions of their by-gone intimacy.,: Hester Sanford was welcome to the suitor her gold had bought. The phrases that had found a sentiment spot in her breast were these : “ Whom I am curious to meet.” “ I shall expect a full-length description of her.” The apa thetic misery which had locked brain and heart with fetters of ice>, since her father's death had not rendered her totally unmind ful of her husband’s long-suffering and gentleness, his unselfish love and care of herself. » She was persuaded that the girlish passion that had made of him a demi-god was gone for ever. Her flesh fainted, and her spirit died within her, at the caresses to which she had turned herself in the days of her idolatry, as roses open to the sun—as innocently and as naturally. She could never love again. : The fires had scathed too deeply for that; but she had begun to be lieve that she might find comfort in esteem ing and liking her only protector ; might seek, and not in vain, in a calm, true friendship for this good man, forgetfulness of the storms that had wrecked her early dreams. In his frank and noble presence suspicion stood rebuked. It was easier to discredit the evidence of one’s own senses and judgment, than to doubt his in tegrity. 