assen. Isabel
had blown no trumpets. In her own straightforward way she had told
the truth to whom it concerned. Of course he would go and see Lady
Mabel, but he trusted that for her own sake nothing would be said
about trumpets.

"So you have come at last," Mabel said when he entered the room.
"No;--Miss Cassewary is not here. As I wanted to see you alone I got
her to go out this morning. Why did you not come before?"

"You said in your letter that you knew why."

"But in saying so I was accusing you of cowardice;--was I not?"

"It was not cowardice."

"Why then did you not come?"

"I thought you would hardly wish to see me so soon,--after what
passed."

"That is honest at any rate. You felt that I must be too much ashamed
of what I said to be able to look you in the face."

"Not that exactly."

"Any other man would have felt the same, but no other man would be
honest enough to tell me so. I do not think that ever in your life
you have constrained yourself to the civility of a lie."

"I hope not."

"To be civil and false is often better than to be harsh and true. I
may be soothed by the courtesy and yet not deceived by the lie. But
what I told you in my letter,--which I hope you have destroyed--"

"I will destroy it."

"Do. It was not intended for the partner of your future joys. As I
told you then, I can talk freely. Why not? We know it,--both of us.
How your conscience may be I cannot tell; but mine is clear from that
soil with which you think it should be smirched."

"I think nothing of the sort."

"Yes, Silverbridge, you do. You have said to yourself this;--That
girl has determined to get me, and she has not scrupled as to how she
would do it."

"No such idea has ever crossed my mind."

"But you have never told yourself of the encouragement which you gave
me. Such condemnation as I have spoken of would have been just if my
efforts had been sanctioned by no words, no looks, no deeds from you.
Did you give me warrant for thinking that you were my lover?"

That theory by which he had justified himself to himself seemed to
fall away from him under her questioning. He could not now remember
his words to her in those old days before Miss Boncassen had crossed
his path; but he did know that he had once intended to make her
understand that he loved her. She had not understood him;--or,
understanding, had not accepted his words; and therefore he had
thought himself free. But it now seemed that he ha