ad
learnt the true story of her father's death and Flossy's share in
bringing it about; but a second thought, quickly following the first,
showed him that in that case she would never have said that she wanted
to trust him, or that he would not let her and her uncle be deceived.
No, it could not be that. But what was it?

By a terrible effort he kept himself from visibly blenching at her
words. He stood still holding her hands, feeling himself a villain to
the very lowest depths of his soul, but looking quietly down at her,
with even a slight smile on the lips that--do what he would--had turned
pale--the ruddy firelight glancing on his face prevented this change of
color from being seen.

"But how can I understand," he said, "when I have not the slightest
notion of what you mean?"

"You have not?"

"Not the least in the world."

She crept a little closer to him.

"You are not sheltering Flossy from punishment?"

It was what he had been doing for the past eight years.

"Good heavens, Enid," he cried, losing his self-possession a little for
the first time, "what on earth can you possibly mean?"

She thought that he was indignant, and she hastened tremblingly to
appease his apparent wrath.

"I don't mean to accuse you or her," she said; "I have said a great deal
too much. I can trust you, Hubert--oh, I am sure I can! Forgive me for
the moment's doubt."

"If you have not accused me, you have accused my sister. I must know
what you mean."

"Forgive me, cousin Hubert! I can't tell you--even you."

"But, my dear Enid, if you said so much, you must say more."

"I will never say anything again!" she said, her face quivering all over
like that of a troubled child.

He loosed her hands and looked at her steadily for a moment; he had more
confidence in his power over her now.

"I think you should make me understand what you mean, dear. Do you
accuse my sister of anything?"

She looked frightened.

"No, indeed I do not. I don't know what I am saying, Hubert. Tell me one
thing. Do you think we should ever do wrong--or what seems to be
wrong--for the sake of other people's happiness? Clergymen and good
people say we should not; but I do not know."

"Enid, you have not been consulting that parson at Beechfield about it?"

"Not exactly. At least"--the ingenuous face changed a little--"we talked
on that subject, because he knew that I was in trouble, but I did not
tell him anything. He said one should always te