o spend his holidays in
the North."

Emily jumped up from her chair. "You!" she exclaimed. "_You_ are going
to Northumberland? With me?"

"Why not?" Alban asked. "The railway is open to all travelers alike, if
they have money enough to buy a ticket."

"Mr. Morris! what _can_ you be thinking of? Indeed, indeed, I am not
ungrateful. I know you mean kindly--you are a good, generous man. But
do remember how completely a girl, in my position, is at the mercy of
appearances. You, traveling in the same carriage with me! and that
woman putting her own vile interpretation on it, and degrading me in Sir
Jervis Redwood's estimation, on the day when I enter his house! Oh, it's
worse than thoughtless--it's madness, downright madness."

"You are quite right," Alban gravely agreed, "it _is_ madness. I lost
whatever little reason I once possessed, Miss Emily, on the day when I
first met you out walking with the young ladies of the school."

Emily turned away in significant silence. Alban followed her.

"You promised just now," he said, "never to think unjustly of me again.
I respect and admire you far too sincerely to take a base advantage of
this occasion--the only occasion on which I have been permitted to speak
with you alone. Wait a little before you condemn a man whom you don't
understand. I will say nothing to annoy you--I only ask leave to explain
myself. Will you take your chair again?"

She returned unwillingly to her seat. "It can only end," she thought,
sadly, "in my disappointing him!"

"I have had the worst possible opinion of women for years past," Alban
resumed; "and the only reason I can give for it condemns me out of my
own mouth. I have been infamously treated by one woman; and my wounded
self-esteem has meanly revenged itself by reviling the whole sex. Wait
a little, Miss Emily. My fault has received its fit punishment. I have
been thoroughly humiliated--and _you_ have done it."

"Mr. Morris!"

"Take no offense, pray, where no offense is meant. Some few years since
it was the great misfortune of my life to meet with a Jilt. You know
what I mean?"

"Yes."

"She was my equal by birth (I am a younger son of a country squire), and
my superior in rank. I can honestly tell you that I was fool enough to
love her with all my heart and soul. She never allowed me to doubt--I
may say this without conceit, remembering the miserable end of it--that
my feeling for her was returned. Her father and mother (excellent