ll the world would have declared that you had done it for your own
private purposes--all the world, except one."

Harry, as he heard this, felt that he was blushing. Did Lady Ongar know
of his engagement with Florence Burton? Lady Clavering knew it, and
might probably have told the tidings; but then, again, she might not
have told them. Harry at this moment wished that he knew how it was. All
that Lady Ongar said to him would come with so different a meaning
according as he did or did not know that fact. But he had no mind to
tell her of the fact himself. He declared to himself that he hoped she
knew it, as it would serve to make them both more comfortable together;
but he did not think it would do for him to bring forward the subject,
neck and heels as it were. The proper thing would be that she should
congratulate him, but this she did not do. "I certainly meant no ill,"
he said, in answer to the last words she had spoken.

"You have never meant ill to me, Harry; though you know you have abused
me dreadfully before now. I daresay you forget the hard names you have
called me. You men do forget such things."

"I remember calling you one name."

"Do not repeat it now, if you please. If I deserved it, it would shame
me; and if I did not, it should shame you."

"No; I will not repeat it."

"Does it not seem odd, Harry, that you and I should be sitting, talking
together in this way?" She was leaning now toward him, across the table,
and one hand was raised to her forehead while her eyes were fixed
intently upon his. The attitude was one which he felt to express extreme
intimacy. She would not have sat in that way, pressing back her hair
from her brow, with all the appearance of widowhood banished from her
face, in the presence of any but a dear and close friend. He did not
think of this, but he felt that it was so, almost by instinct. "I have
such a tale to tell you," she said; "such a tale!"

Why should she tell it to him? Of course he asked himself this
question. Then he remembered that she had no brother--remembered also
that her brother-in-law had deserted her, and he declared to himself
that, if necessary, he would be her brother. "I fear that you have
not been happy," said he, "since I saw you last."

"Happy!" she replied. "I have lived such a life as I did not think any
man or woman could be made to live on this side the grave. I will be
honest with you, Harry. Nothing but the conviction that it could not be