He took me down into the study, seated himself in his accustomed
chair, and put me before him between his knees. His lips were
awfully white, and I felt his two hands, as they grasped my
shoulders, shaking violently.

"You are never to mention the name of Uncle George again," he
said, in a quick, angry, trembling whisper. "Never to me, never
to your mother, never to your aunt, never to anybody in this
world! Never--never--never!"

The repetition of the word terrified me even more than the
suppressed vehemence with which he spoke. He saw that I was
frightened, and softened his manner a little before he went on.

"You will never see Uncle George again," he said. "Your mother
and I love you dearly; but if you forget what I have told you,
you will be sent away from home. Never speak that name
again--mind, never! Now kiss me, and go away."

How his lips trembled--and oh, how cold they felt on mine!

I shrunk out of the room the moment he had kissed me, and went
and hid myself in the garden.

"Uncle George is gone. I am never to see him any more; I am never
to speak of him again"--those were the words I repeated to
myself, with indescribable terror and confusion, the moment I was
alone. There was something unspeakably horrible to my young mind
in this mystery which I was commanded always to respect, and