no mistake," she went on, still more indignantly; "she came
with your friend, Rene, and I knew her before she spoke, for I had seen
her face in a score of places in your sketch-book, and you told me she
was a model in your studio. It is no business of mine, Mr. Hartington,
whom you are going to marry. I can understand, perhaps, your wish that
the matter should remain for a time a secret, but I did not think when I
told you that I knew it, you would have kept up the affectation of
ignorance. I have always regarded you as being truthful and honorable
beyond all things, and I am bitterly disappointed. I was hurt that you
should not have given your confidence to me, but I did think when I told
you that I knew your secret you would have manfully owned it, and not
descended to a pretence of ignorance."

For a moment Cuthbert's face had expressed bewilderment, but as she went
on speaking, a smile stole across his face. Mary noticed it and her
voice and manner changed.

"I think, Mr. Hartington," she said, with great dignity, "you must see
that it will be pleasanter for us both that this interview shall
terminate."

He rose from his seat, took his hat off the table, and said, quietly--

"I have but one observation to make before I go. You have discovered,
Miss Brander, that you made one mistake in your life. Has it never
struck you that you might also have made a mistake this time? I think
that our very long acquaintance might have induced you to hesitate a
little before you assumed it as a certainty that your old acquaintance
was acting in this way, and that for the sake of old times you might
have given him the benefit of the doubt."

The strength that Mary's indignation had given her, deserted her
suddenly. Her fingers tightened on the back of the chair by her side for
support.

"How could there be any mistake," she asked, weakly, her vigorous attack
now turned into a defence, more by his manner than his words, "when I
heard her say so?"

"Sit down, child," he said, in his old authoritative manner. "You are
not fit to stand."

She felt it would be a step towards defeat if she did so, but he brought
up the chair in which she had before been sitting and placed it behind
her, and quietly assisted her into it.

"Now," he went on, "you say you heard it from her lips. What did she
say?"

"She said she insisted on going in to see you, and that as your
affianced wife she had a right to do so."

"She said that, did sh