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Whatcouldhaveoccurredintheintervaltochangeyouso?Itmusthavebeensomethingthathappenedlastnight.Youhavebeenthinkingitoverandyouhavedisapprovedofmyconduct.Wasitthemesmerism?Didyoublamemeforlettingthatwomanexerciseherpoweroveryou?YouknowthatattheleastsignIshouldhaveinterfered.""Itisuseless,Austin.Allisover:"Hervoicewascoldandmeasured;hermannerstrangelyformalandhard.Itseemedtomethatshewasabsolutelyresolvednottobedrawnintoanyargumentorexplanation.Asforme,Iwasshakingwithagitation,andIturnedmyfaceaside,soashamedwasIthatsheshouldseemywantofcontrol."Youmustknowwhatthismeanstome!"Icried."Itistheblastingofallmyhopesandtheruinofmylife!Yousurelywillnotinflictsuchapunishmentuponmeunheard.Youwillletmeknowwhatisthematter.Considerhowimpossibleitwouldbeforme,underanycircumstances,totreatyouso.ForGod’ssake,Agatha,letmeknowwhatIhavedone!"Shewalkedpastmewithoutawordandopenedthedoor."Itisquiteuseless,Austin,"saidshe."Youmustconsiderourengagementatanend."Aninstantlatershewasgone,and,beforeIcouldrecovermyselfsufficientlytofollowher,Iheardthehall-doorclosebehindher.Irushedintomyroomtochangemycoat,withtheideaofhurryingroundtoMrs.Marden’stolearnfromherwhatthecauseofmymisfortunemightbe.SoshakenwasIthatIcouldhardlylacemyboots.NevershallIforgetthosehorribletenminutes.Ihadjustpulledonmyovercoatwhentheclockuponthemantel-piecestruckten.