Transcriber's Notes:

Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

Variations in page numbering are due to placement of illustrations and blank pages occurring in the original text.

The original text had some printing errors resulting in repeated and missing text. The orginal text is preserved here:

deceit where I had looked for honesty and gratitude.'
the result of a compact entered into with the despicable Urquhart, who, if he could not have her grasp at this wisp of hope and cling to it, though I knew it would never hold, and that her only chance for happiness was passing from her.

[Original text from page 177:]

almost overwhelmed it.

"For to me her death--if she were dead--was

"I was a coward, perhaps, but I did not try to dissuade her. Though she was fatherless and motherless, and loverless and friendless, I let her for himself, was willing she should go where no

The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will appear.