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Some time afterwards had occurred that terrible event to which Miriam

had alluded when she revealed her nahtful and

mysterious circumstances of which will recur to many minds, but of which

few or none can have found for themselves a satisfactory explanation It

only concerns the present narrative, inas

at least an accomplice in the crime fell darkly and directly upon Miriam

herself

"But you know that I aain, and looking Kenyon in the face

"I know it by my deepest consciousness," he answered; "and I know it by

Hilda's trust and entire affection, which you never could have won had

you been capable of guilt"

"That is sure ground, indeed, for pronouncinginto her eyes "Yet I have since become a horror

to your saint-like Hilda, by a crime which she herself saw me help to

perpetrate!"

She proceeded with her story The great influence of her family

connections had shielded her frouilt But, in her despair, she had fled froht with such circumstances as rendered it the most

probable conclusion that she had committed suicide Miriam, however, was

not of the feeble nature which takes advantage of that obvious and poor

resource in earthly difficulties She flung herself upon the world,

and speedily created a new sphere, in which Hilda's gentle purity,

the sculptor's sensibility, clear thought, and genius, and Donatello's