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little desirous of leaving the Continent that we are likely to be
married abroad。 But she is weary of the perpetual gayety and
glitter of Paris； and wants to see the old Belgian cities。 Her
mother leaves Paris with regret。 The liveliest woman of her age
that I ever met with。
Brussels； May 7。My blessing on the old Belgian cities。 Mrs。
Eyrecourt is so eager to get away from them that she backs me in
hurrying the marriage； and even consents； sorely against the
grain； to let the wedding be celebrated at Brussels in a private
and unpretending way。 She has only stipulated that Lord and Lady
Loring （old friends） shall be present。 They are to arrive
tomorrow； and two days afterward we are to be married。
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
。
（An inclosure is inserted in this place。 It consists of the
death…bed confession of Mr。 Winterfield's wife； and of the
explanatory letter written by the rector of Belhaven。 The
circumstances related in these documents； already known to the
reader； are left to speak for themselves； and the Extracts from
the Diary are then continued。）
。 。 。 。 。 。 。
。
Bingen； on the Rhine； May 19。Letters from Devonshire at last；
which relieve my wretchedness in some small degree。 The frightful
misfortune at Brussels will at least be kept secret； so far as I
am concerned。 Beaupark House is shut up； and the servants are
dismissed； 〃in consequence of my residence abroad。〃 To Father
Newbliss I have privately written。 Not daring to tell him the
truth； I leave him to infer that my marriage engagement has been
broken off； he writes back a kind and comforting letter。 Time
will； I suppose； help me to bear my sad lot。 Perhaps a day may
come when Stella and her friends will know how cruelly they have
wronged me。
London； November 18；1860。The old wound has been opened again。 I
met her accidentally in a picture gallery。 She turned deadly
pale； and left the place。 Oh； Stella！ Stella！
London； August 12； 1861。Another meeting with her。 And another
shock to endure； which I might not have suffered if I had been a
reader of the marriage announcements in the newspapers。 Like
other men； I am in the habit of leaving the marriage
announcements to the women。
I went to visit an agreeable new acquaintance； Mr。 Romayne。 His
wife drove up to the house while I was looking out of window。 I
recognized Stella！ After two years； she has made use of the
freedom which the law has given to her。 I must not complain of
that； or of her treating me like a stranger； when her husband
innocently introduced us。 But when are were afterward left
together for a few minutesno！ I cannot write down the merciless
words she said to me。 Why am I fool enough to be as fond of her
as ever？
Beaupark； November 16。Stella's married life is not likely to be
a happy one。 To…day's newspaper announces the conversion of her
husband to the Roman Catholic Faith。 I can honestly say I am
sorry for her； knowing how she has suffered； among her own
relatives； by these conversions。 But I so hate him； that this
proof of his weakness is a downright consolation to me。
Beaupark； January 27； 1862。A letter from Stella； so startling
and deplorable that I cannot remain away from her after reading
it。 Her husband has deliberately deserted her。 He has gone to
Rome； to serve his term of probation for the priesthood。 I travel
to London by to…day's train。
London； January 27。Short as it is； I looked at Stella's letter
again and again on the journey。 The tone of the closing sentences
is still studiously cold。 After informing me that she is staying
with her mother in London； she concludes her letter in these
terms：
〃Be under no fear that the burden of my troubles will be laid on
your shoulders。 Since the fatal day when we met at Ten Acres； you
have shown forbearance and compassion toward me。 I don't stop to
inquire if you are sincereit rests with you to prove that。 But
I have some questions to ask； which no person but you can answer。
For the rest； my friendless position will perhaps plead with you
not to misunderstand me。 May I write again？〃
Inveterate distrust in every sentence！ If any other woman had
treated me in this way； I should have put her letter into the
fire； and should not have stirred from my comfortable house。
January 29。A day missed out of my Diary。 The events of
yesterday unnerved me for the time。
Arriving at Derwent's Hotel on the evening of the 27th； I sent a
line to Stella by messenger； to ask when she could receive me。
It is strange how the merest trifles seem to touch women！ Her
note in reply contains the first expression of friendly feeling
toward me which has escaped her since we parted at Brussels。 And
this expression proceeds from her ungovernable surprise and
gratitude at my taking the trouble to travel from Devonshire to
London on her account！
For the rest； she proposed to call on me at the hotel the next
morning。 She and her mother； it appeared； differed in opinion on
the subject of Mr。 Romayne's behavior to her； and she wished to
see me； in the first instance； unrestrained by Mrs。 Eyrecourt's
interference。
There was little sleep for me that night。 I passed most of the
time in smoking and walking up and down the room。 My one relief
was afforded by Travelerhe begged so hard to go to London with
me； I could not resist him。 The dog always sleeps in my room。 His
surprise at my extraordinary restlessness （ending in downright
anxiety and alarm） was expressed in his eyes； and in his little
whinings and cries； quite as intelligibly as if he had put his
meaning into words。 Who first called a dog a dumb creature？ It
must have been a man； I thinkand a thoroughly unlovable man；
too； from a dog's point of view。
Soon after ten； on the morning of the 28th； she entered my
sitting…room。
In her personal appearance； I saw a change for the worse：
produced； I suppose； by the troubles that have tried her sorely；
poor thing。 There was a sad loss of delicacy in her features； and
of purity in her complexion。 Even her dressI should certainly
not have noticed it in any other womanseemed to be loose and
slovenly。 In the agitation of the moment； I forgot the long
estrangement between us； I half lifted my hand to take hers； and
checked myself。 Was I mistaken in supposing that she yielded to
the same impulse； and