heard, but I am in
doubt.'

'Dangerous! it is safety,' said Merton.

'How?'

Merton braced himself for the most delicate and perilous part of his
enterprise.

'The Vidame de la Lain will be staying with you?'

'Naturally,' said Mrs. Malory. 'And if there _is_ any truth in what was
whispered--'

'He will be subject to temptation,' said Merton.

'Mrs. Brown-Smith is so pretty and so amusing, and dear Matilda; she
takes after my dear husband's family, though the best of girls, Matilda
has not that flashing manner.'

'But surely no such thing as temptation should exist for a man so
fortunate as de la Lain! And if it did, would his conduct not confirm
what you have heard, and open the eyes of Miss Malory?'

'It seems so odd to be discussing such things with--so young a man as
you--not even a relation,' sighed Mrs. Malory.

'I can withdraw at once,' said Merton.

'Oh no, please don't speak of that! I am not really at all happy yet
about my daughter's future.'

'Well, suppose the worst by way of argument; suppose that you saw, that
Miss Malory saw--'

'Matilda has always refused to see or to listen, and has spoken of the
reforming effects of a pure affection. She would be hard, indeed, to
convince that anything was wrong, but, once certain--I know Matilda's
character--she would never forgive the insult, never.'

'And you would rather that she suffered some present distress?'

'Than that she was tied for life to a man who could cause it? Certainly
I would.'

'Then, Mrs. Malory, as it _is_ awkward to discuss these intimate matters
with me, might I suggest that you should have an interview with Mrs.
Brown-Smith herself? I assure you that you can trust her, and I happen
to know that her view of the man about whom we are talking is exactly
your own. More I could say as to her reasons and motives, but we
entirely decline to touch on the past or to offer any opinion about the
characters of our patients--the persons about whose engagements we are
consulted. He might have murdered his grandmother or robbed a church,
but my lips would be sealed.'

'Do you not think that Mrs. Brown-Smith would be very much surprised if I
consulted her?'

'I know that she takes a sincere interest in Miss Malory, and that her
advice would be excellent--though perhaps rather startling,' said Merton.

'I dislike it very much. The world has altered terribly since I was
Matilda's age,' said Mrs. Malory; 'but I should never fo