Mildred, if you please. Rely on your mother's experience, and imitate
your sister's prudence. Mr. Melcomb will wait upon you to-morrow.' It
was still some time before I understood. I begged for pity, for delay,
for anything. Mamma was very, very stern!"

Mildred threw her arms round Gertrude, and bent her face upon her
neck.

"Marry him!" she exclaimed in a whisper--"never!"

"Ay," thought Mrs. Winston, pressing her sister to her bosom, "I said
the same. And yet.... But I had no refuge. I was unsupported, and
helpless. It is a hard struggle. May it not be avoided? Can we not gain
time? If Melcomb had a spark of generosity.... But he is too vain ...and
even then our mother.... There is nothing for it but time. Mildred,
dearest," she continued aloud, "you need not tremble so. You will not
have to accept Mr. Melcomb."

"What mean you?" her sister asked, raising her head.

"Listen: I understand this gentleman, and so, I think, do you. He will
not dream of asking your consent. He will take it for granted. Let
him--let him till the time comes. It will not be long, but we shall
have a chance of avoiding eclat. Tell mamma, that though you are not
now favourable to Mr. Melcomb, you cannot refuse to see him, and she
will be satisfied. And then we shall have the chapter of accidents on
our side."

"Must I do this, Gertrude?" Mildred exclaimed. "There was a time when
I was amused with his compliments, Heaven forgive me! But to listen to
them now! Encourage him, I never did. He knew I was laughing. Ah me!
If I escape this time, I will never flirt again."

"Be not too sure," said Gertrude. "But take your sister's word, no
harm will come. And remember, here is your home as a last resort.
Come, come," she continued, in answer to a sigh from her sister, "let
me take you a drive. You are as pale as Ophelia. But ah, ca ira, ca
ira ... do not repeat my revolutionary music to papa."

As the sisters rode along, Mrs. Winston turned the conversation to the
scene which had occurred at her late party. She had not seen it, nor
indeed had any one save those who were mentioned at the time. She
brought the colour into Mildred's cheeks, by alluding with a smile, to
her retirement with her partner to that unfrequented little room; and
she made her heart beat quick by relating all the circumstances which
she had learned from Rereworth, who had duly delivered Randolph's
message, and taken the opportunity of extolling the merits of his
friend.