one in the whole wide
world; and far be it from me to wish evil to her or to any one that she
loves."

Miss Vane's handkerchief fell to her lap. The General stared at the
speaker open-mouthed. The man's native nobility of soul amazed them
both. Andrew Westwood went on soberly.

"You have not asked Mr. Lepel how he came to fight Mr. Vane, sir. You
might be sure that it wasn't for a poor reason; and there was never
anything considered dishonorable in a fair fight between two armed men."

"That does not do away with the injury to yourself," said the General
grimly. "Such blame as there was ought to have been borne by him and not
by you."

Westwood waved his hand.

"As for injury," he said, "me and Cynthia have agreed to forget about
that. If I'd been at Portland all this time, why, then no doubt I should
feel it worse. But I got away after four years of it, and made my way to
America, and 'struck ile' there. I've done better since then than, ever
I did in my life before; so I have no need to complain. But you haven't
asked him why he fought Mr. Vane, sir."

"Well, why was it?" said the General sternly and grudgingly.

He did not see that his wife suddenly rose from her seat, and with
clasped hands darted a look full of miserable fear and entreaty towards
her brother. But all the others saw, though some of them did not
understand; and Hubert responded to the appeal.

"I cannot tell you," he answered, with his eyes on the ground.

"But I can!" said Westwood. "And Mrs. Vane could, if she chose! Blame
her if you like, sir, for she's known the truth all along as much as Mr.
Hubert's done; and it was to save her that he would not open his lips."

They had tried in vain to stop him--Hubert by angry imperative words,
Flossy by a piteous cry of terror; but Westwood's rough sonorous voice
rose above all other sounds. He paused for a moment, looking at the
General's face of incredulous dismay, at Mrs. Vane's shrinking figure,
and his tones softened a little as he spoke again.

"I don't wish to say more myself than is necessary. Miss Lepel as she
was then and Mr. Sydney Vane were in the habit of meeting each other in
the wood. Many of the village people knew it--it was common talk in
Beechfield. Mr. Lepel found it out and was angry. He told Mr. Vane there
must be no more of it; and then the quarrel followed that Mr. Lepel
speaks about. I don't want to make too much of it"--casting a reluctant
glance at Hubert--"but I thi