"In his power again; just as I thought myself forever safe from his persecution!"
"Answer me—where did you meet the man who brought you to this house?"
As he spoke, Tarleton seized the boy by the wrist.
"In the street; I had fainted on the sidewalk," was the answer, in a tremulous voice.
"And how came you in the street at such an unusual hour?"
"When you left Mr. Somers' house, you threatened to return to-morrow," answered Gulian, clasping his hands over his breast. "I was determined to avoid seeing you again, at all hazards. I left the house, and wandered forth, uncertain whither to direct my steps. Yes—oh yes! I had one purpose plainly in my mind,"—he smiled, and his eyes brightened up with a strange light,—"I resolved to bend my steps to the river."
"To the river?"
"Yes, to the river," answered the boy, with a singular smile: "for you know that if I was drowned, I would be safe from you forever."
"And you would become a—suicide!" said Tarleton, with a sneer; "you, so finely brought up! Have you no fear of the hereafter?"
Gulian's pale face lighted with a faint glow.—"There are some deeds which are worse than suicide," he answered quietly, yet with a significant glance. "It was to avoid the commission of one of these deeds, that, scarcely an hour ago, I left the house of Mr. Somers and bent my steps to the river."