ding: "Odalite herself admits that she has no regret for
her broken-off marriage, and never really cared for any one but her first
lover;" for Le was all unaccustomed to having secrets to keep.

"What were you going to add, dear boy? 'If it were not that'--what?"
inquired the lady, who had observed his hesitation and embarrassment.

"If it were not that I know her to be quite free," he answered,
diplomatically.

"But is she quite free, Leonidas?" gravely questioned the lady.

"Is she not?" demanded the youth, in astonishment.

"I do not know, my boy! I am not sure! But oh, Le! I have never breathed a
doubt on this subject to her! And do not you breathe this to any living
soul!" solemnly replied the lady.

"Great Sphinx of Egypt!" said the youth to himself. "Have I got to keep
the secrets of each one from all the others? And without even having the
satisfaction of knowing what the secrets are?"

"Listen to me, Le," said the lady, kindly. "I have no objection to your
corresponding with Odalite while you are on your voyage; but there must be
no engagement, or hint of an engagement between you, either before you go
or in any of your letters. Moreover, your letters must not be directed
immediately to Odalite, but under cover to me."

"I thank you for even so much grace, Aunt Elfrida; but why may not my
letters be directed to Odalite?"

"Because they might get her unjustly and disrespectfully talked about,"
said she, evasively.

"But, oh, Aunt Elfrida! why should you doubt that Odalite is free? Why,
the fact is abundantly proven."

"No, dear boy, there is where the trouble is. We think it was proven, but
we are not sure. What we are sure of is this--that there was a marriage
ceremony performed by special license, and by a regularly ordained
minister of the gospel, and in the presence of more than a hundred
witnesses, between Angus Anglesea and Odalite Force, and which, if both
parties were free to contract marriage at the time, binds them together as
man and wife for the term of their natural lives. That is all that we
positively know, Le," gravely replied the lady.

The youth sprang up from his chair with a cry of pain.

"I cannot bear to think of that!" he said, as he dropped again into his
seat. "But it cannot be true! The news from St. Sebastian proves that the
man was the husband of another woman at the time that he tried to marry
your daughter--and that therefore the ceremony was no marriage at all, and
s