ncis went into the smoking-room, and sitting there
alone with a cigar in his mouth, meditated the letter which he would
have to write. The letter should be addressed to Mr. Western, and was
one which could not be written without much forethought. He not only
must tell his story, but must give some reason more or less plausible
for the telling of it. He did not think that he could at once make
his idea of justice plain to Mr. Western. He could not put forth his
case so clearly as to make the husband understand that all was done
in fair honour and honesty. But as he thought of it, he came to the
conclusion that he did not much care what impression he might leave
on the mind of Mr. Western;--and still less what impression he might
leave on hers. He might probably succeed in creating a quarrel, and
he was of opinion that Mr. Western was a man who would not quarrel
lightly, but, when he did, would quarrel very earnestly. Having
thought it all over with great deliberation, he went up-stairs, and
in twenty minutes had his letter written. At a quarter past four he
was at the Waterloo Station to see the departure of Miss Altifiorla.
Even he could perceive that she was somewhat brighter in her attire
than when he had met her early in the morning. He could not say what
had been done, but something had been added to please his eyes. The
gloves were not the same, nor the ribbons; and he thought that he
perceived that even the bonnet had been altered. Her manner too was
changed. There was a careless ease and freedom about her which he
rather liked; and he took it in good part that Miss Altifiorla had
prepared herself for the interview, though he were to be with her but
for a few minutes, and that she should be different from the Miss
Altifiorla as she had come away from the Western breakfast table.
"Now there is one thing I want you to promise me," she said as she
gave him her hand.

"Anything on earth."

"Don't let Mr. Western or Cecilia know that you know about that."
He laughed and merely shook his head. "Pray don't. What's the good?
You'll only create a disturbance and misery. Poor dear Cecilia has
been uncommonly silly. But I don't think that she deserves to be
punished quite so severely."

"I'm afraid I must differ from you there," he said, shaking his head.

"Is it absolutely necessary?"

"Absolutely."

"Poor Cecilia! How can she have been so foolish! He is of such a
singular temperament that I do not know what the eff