`And you received him by request?' said
Edith.
`Yes—but not from my own choice,' replied
Kate. `I should not have noticed the
letter, but my aunt said I ought to know
who Mr. Marvin was before I passed judgment
upon him, and absolutely commanded
me to receive him that night. I did so—I
found him agreeable—more of a gentleman
than any man I ever knew. I suspected
nothing, but invited him to call again. He
came to see me frequently for a long time
making both my aunt and me rich presents
My aunt believed him wealthy. She was
avaricious, intriguing and unprincipled.—
Her influence over me was fatal. I had
learned to love Mr. Marvin, and to confide
in him. I believed his fair promises. I
could not think he would even desert me.
Oh! then I had a double temptation to overcome—nay,
the temptation was three-fold.
When he was away my aunt poisoned my
soul with her own immoral principles; and
he, with the cunning of the serpent, let no
opportunity pass of inspiring me with voluptuous
dreams of guilty pleasure. Added to
this was the natural sinfulness of my own
nature to be resisted—my own selfishness
and my own passions.'
`No wonder that you fell!' exclaimed
Edith, in a tone of pity
Kate bid her face in her hands, and for a
moment neither spoke nor moved.
`Go on,' said Edith, kindly as before.
`Would you believe me?' murmured Kate.
`That man who professed to love me so, betrayed
me, and deserted me!'
`As men too often do!' exclaimed Edith.
`You are one of thousands—but you are
better than many unfortunate ones, for there
is much goodness still remaining in your
heart, while the greater part of those who
fall, are plunged into ruin inevitable, and
instead of repenting and reforming, became
more depraved than ever.'
`It was so with me, alas!' sighed Kate.
`I became as bad as it is possible for a creature
to become. I associated with the worst
of my own sex, and with the criminal and
guilty of the other.'
`But now you regret it?'
`How bitterly do I!'
`And would become virtuous once more?'
said Edith.
`Miss Irving,' replied Kate, earnestly; `if
I had all the wealth of this world at my
command, I would give it to blot out the
past from my memory, and become as pure
in heart and happy as I once was!'
`And what hinders you?' asked Edith.
You have been frank with me, and have put
confidence in my friendship, and you shall
not be disappointed in your trust. I will
assist you, Catherine; you shall live with
me, and I will be your friend rather than
your mistress. I promise you, if you are
virtuous, you shall be happy. Associate
with the vicious no more, but live a life of
innocence and peace.'
Thus Edith went on to pour sweet words
of consolation into Catherine's ears, and by
her sympathy and kindness, to awaken in
her heart stronger sensations of joy she had
never felt before.
`One thing,' said Kate, after a long pause,
`I now feel compelled to confess to you. If
I die for telling it to you, you shall know a
secret that may save you much sorrow and
regret. This Marvin—I should have told
you that he is one of those who delight in
vice for its own sake; who, while they are
able to move in the first society, often seek
out the company of the low and degraded
out of choice.'
`Well?'
`You know him!'
Edith started.
`I know no one by that name,' she said,
after a pause.
`But he has another name.'
`What is it?'
`It is a name you respect,' said Kate; a
name that will startle you when you hear it.'
`Speak!'
`It is the Reverend Mr. Everett.
