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been born of sensuality； and had perished in the fires it had itself kindled。 Many women have； unhappily； made some such discovery as this； but for most women there is some distracting occupation。 Had it been Sylvia's fate to live in the midst of fashion and society； she would have found relief in the conversation of the witty； or the homage of the distinguished。 Had fortune cast her lot in a city； Mrs。 Frere might have become one of those charming women who collect around their supper…tables whatever of male intellect is obtainable； and who find the husband admirably useful to open his own champagne bottles。 The celebrated women who have stepped out of their domestic circles to enchant or astonish the world； have almost invariably been cursed with unhappy homes。 But poor Sylvia was not destined to this fortune。 Cast back upon herself； she found no surcease of pain in her own imaginings； and meeting with a man sufficiently her elder to encourage her to talk； and sufficiently clever to induce her to seek his society and his advice； she learnt； for the first time； to forget her own griefs； for the first time she suffered her nature to expand under the sun of a congenial influence。 This sun； suddenly withdrawn； her soul； grown accustomed to the warmth and light； shivered at the gloom； and she looked about her in dismay at the dull and barren prospect of life which lay before her。 In a word； she found that the society of North had become so far necessary to her that to be deprived of it was a griefnotwithstanding that her husband remained to console her。
After a week of such reflections； the barrenness of life grew insupportable to her； and one day she came to Maurice and begged to be sent back to Hobart Town。 〃I cannot live in this horrible island；〃 she said。 〃I am getting ill。 Let me go to my father for a few months； Maurice。〃 Maurice consented。 His wife was looking ill； and Major Vickers was an old mana rich old manwho loved his only daughter。 It was not undesirable that Mrs。 Frere should visit her father； indeed； so little sympathy was there between the pair that； the first astonishment over； Maurice felt rather glad to get rid of her for a while。 〃You can go back in the Lady Franklin if you like； my dear；〃 he said。 〃I expect her every day。〃 At this decisionmuch to his surpriseshe kissed him with more show of affection than she had manifested since the death of her child。
The news of the approaching departure became known； but still North did not make his appearance。 Had it not been a step beneath the dignity of a woman； Mrs。 Frere would have gone herself and asked him the meaning of his unaccountable rudeness； but there was just sufficient morbidity in the sympathy she had for him to restrain her from an act which a young girlthough not more innocent… would have dared without hesitation。 Calling one day upon the wife of the surgeon； however； she met the chaplain face to face； and with the consummate art of acting which most women possess； rallied him upon his absence from her house。 The behaviour of the poor devil； thus stabbed to the heart； was curious。 He forgot gentlemanly behaviour and the respect due to a woman； flung one despairingly angry glance at her and abruptly retired。 Sylvia flushed crimson； and endeavoured to excuse North on account of his recent illness。 The surgeon's wife looked askance； and turned the conversation。 The next time Sylvia bowed to this lady； she got a chilling salute in return that made her blood boil。 〃I wonder how I have offended Mrs。 Field？〃 she asked Maurice。 〃She almost cut me to…day。〃 〃Oh； the old cat！〃 returned Maurice。 〃What does it matter if she did？〃 However； a few days afterwards； it seemed that it did matter； for Maurice called upon Field and conversed seriously with him。 The issue of the conversation being reported to Mrs。 Frere； the lady wept indignant tears of wounded pride and shame。 It appeared that North had watched her out of the house； returned； and relatedin a 〃stumbling； hesitating way〃； Mrs。 Field saidhow he disliked Mrs。 Frere； how he did not want to visit her； and how flighty and reprehensible such conduct was in a married woman of her rank and station。 This act of basenessor profound noblenessachieved its purpose。 Sylvia noticed the unhappy priest no more。 Between the Commandant and the chaplain now arose a coolness； and Frere set himself； by various petty tyrannies； to disgust North； and compel him to a resignation of his office。 The convict…gaolers speedily marked the difference in the treatment of the chaplain； and their demeanour changed。 For respect was substituted insolence； for alacrity； sullenness； for prompt obedience； impertinent intrusion。 The men whom North favoured were selected as special subjects for harshness； and for a prisoner to be seen talking to the clergyman was sufficient to ensure for him a series of tyrannies。 The result of this was that North saw the souls he laboured to save slipping back into the gulf； beheld the men he had half won to love him meet him with averted faces； discovered that to show interest in a prisoner was to injure him； not to serve him。 The unhappy man grew thinner and paler under this ingenious torment。 He had deprived himself of that love which； guilty though it might be； was； nevertheless； the only true love he had known； and he found that； having won this victory； he had gained the hatred of all living creatures with whom he came in contact。 The authority of the Commandant was so supreme that men lived but by the breath of his nostrils。 To offend him was to perish and the man whom the Commandant hated must be hated also by all those who wished to exist in peace。 There was but one being who was not to be turned from his allegiancethe convict murderer； Rufus Dawes； who awaited death。 For many days he had remained mute； broken down beneath his weight of sorrow or of sullenness； but North； bereft of other love and sympathy； strove with that fighting soul； if haply he might win it back to peace。 It seemed to the fancy of the priesta fancy distempered； perhaps； by excess； or superhumanly exalted by mental agonythat this convict； over whom he had wept； was given to him as a hostage for his own salvation。 〃I must save him or perish；〃 he said。 〃I must save him； though I redeem him with my own blood。〃
Frere； unable to comprehend the reason of the calmness with which the doomed felon met his taunts and torments； thought that he was shamming piety to gain some indulgence of meat and drink； and redoubled his severity。 He ordered Dawes to be taken out to work just before the hour at which the chaplain was accustomed to visit him。 He pretended that the man was 〃dangerous〃； and directed a gaoler to be present at all interviews； 〃lest the chaplain might be murdered〃。 He issued an order that all civil officers should obey the challenges of convicts acting as watchmen； and North； coming to pray with his penitent； would be stopped ten times by grinning felons； who； putting their faces within a foot of his； would roar out； 〃Who goes there？〃 and burst out laughing at the reply。 Under pretence of watching more carefully over the property of the chaplain； he directed that any convict； acting as const