rward caused his
death. He was quite unfit to interfere."

"Was there no one else who could help you?"

"No one."

"No lady in whom you could confide?"

"I had acquaintances among the ladies in the neighborhood. I had no
friends."

"What did you do, then?"

"Nothing. I hesitated; I put off coming to an explanation with him,
unfortunately, until it was too late."

"What do you mean by too late?"

"You shall hear. I ought to have told you that Richard Wardour is in the
navy--"

"Indeed! I am more interested in him than ever. Well?"

"One spring day Richard came to our house to take leave of us before he
joined his ship. I thought he was gone, and I went into the next room.
It was my own sitting-room, and it opened on to the garden."--

"Yes?"

"Richard must have been watching me. He suddenly appeared in the garden.
Without waiting for me to invite him, he walked into the room. I was a
little startled as well as surprised, but I managed to hide it. I said,
'What is it, Mr. Wardour?' He stepped close up to me; he said, in his
quick, rough way: 'Clara! I am going to the African coast. If I live,
I shall come back promoted; and we both know what will happen then.'
He kissed me. I was half frightened, half angry. Before I could compose
myself to say a word, he was out in the garden again--he was gone! I
ought to have spoken, I know. It was not honorable, not kind toward him.
You can't reproach me for my want of courage and frankness more bitterly
than I reproach myself!"

"My dear child, I don't reproach you. I only think you might have
written to him."

"I did write."

"Plainly?"

"Yes. I told him in so many words that he was deceiving himself, and
that I could never marry him."

"Plain enough, in all conscience! Having said that, surely you are not
to blame. What are you fretting about now?"

"Suppose my letter has never reached him?"

"Why should you suppose anything of the sort?"

"What I wrote required an answer, Lucy--_asked_ for an answer. The
answer has never come. What is the plain conclusion? My letter has never
reached him. And the _Atalanta_ is expected back! Richard Wardour is
returning to England--Richard Wardour will claim me as his wife! You
wondered just now if I really meant what I said. Do you doubt it still?"

Mrs. Crayford leaned back absently in her chair. For the first time
since the conversation had begun, she let a question pass without making
a reply. The truth is, Mrs. C