my soul! What do you mean, child? Is anything wrong? You
don't look quite yourself. Has that young scoundrel--if I thought--" the
Rector got up. His face was red, he clenched his hand in no clerical
style.

Beatrice also rose to her feet.

"He is not a scoundrel," she said. "Although if our engagement had gone
on, and I had been married to Captain Bertram, he would have been one."

"Then you are not engaged? You have broken it off."

"I am not engaged. I have released Captain Bertram from his engagement
to me."

"Beatrice! I did not expect this from you. His mother is attached to
you--so are his sisters, while he himself, poor lad--! Bee, it was
better you should find out your heart in time, but I am surprised--I am
grieved. You should have known it before--before things went as far as
this, my dear girl."

"Please, Mr. Ingram, listen to me. Sit down again, for I have a long
story to tell. I have not changed my mind, nor am I guilty of any
special fickleness. But circumstances have arisen which make it
impossible for me to keep my engagement. Captain Bertram sees this as
plainly as I do. He is very thankful to be released."

"Then he is a scoundrel, I thought as much."

"No, he isn't that. But he has been weak, poor fellow, and harassed, and
tempted. And his mother has used all her influence. I know now what she
wanted me for. Just for my money. But I've been saved in time."

"God bless me, this is very strange and dreadful. You puzzle me
awfully."

"I will tell you the story, Rector, then you won't be puzzled. Do you
remember once speaking to me about a girl you saw at the Manor lodge.
She was living there for a little. Her name was Hart."

"Yes, yes, a very handsome, queer girl. I spoke to Mrs. Bertram about
her. She seemed to me to have taken an unjust prejudice against the poor
lonely child."

"Mr. Ingram, Miss Hart is engaged to Loftus Bertram, and he will marry
her next Tuesday."

"Beatrice, have you gone quite mad?

"No, I am as sane as any other girl who has got a shock, but who is
resolved to do right. Captain Bertram shall marry Nina, because in heart
they are married already, because they love each other, as I never could
love him, nor he me, because they were betrothed to each other before he
and I ever met, because Nina was dying for love of him, and only
marrying him can save her. Oh, it was pitiable to see Nina, Mr. Ingram,
and I am thankful--I shall be thankful to my dying day--that I s