“Dear Reuben, you are totally mistaken!  Your sisters no more than yourself have ever given me the least cause of offense.  They could not, dear Reuben!  They must be good girls, being your sisters.”

“Well, if neither I nor my sisters have hurt your feelings, Hannah, what in the name of sense did you mean by saying—­I hate even to repeat the words—­that you won’t marry me?”

“Reuben, reproach has fallen upon my name—­undeserved, indeed, but not the less severe.  You have young, unmarried sisters, with nothing but their good names to take them through the world.  For their sakes, dear, you must not marry me and my reproach!”

“Is that all you mean, Hannah?”

“All.”

“Then I will marry you!”

“Reuben, you must give me up.”

“I won’t, I say!  So there, now.”

“Dear Reuben, I value your affection more than I do anything in this world except duty; but I cannot permit you to sacrifice yourself to me,” said Hannah, struggling hard to repress the sobs that were again rising in her bosom.

“Hannah, I begin to think you want to drive me crazy or break my heart!  What sacrifice would it be for me to marry you and adopt that poor child?  The only sacrifice I can think of would be to give you up!  But I won’t do it! no!  I won’t for nyther man nor mortal!  You promised to marry me, Hannah, and I won’t free your promise! but I will keep you to it, and marry you, if I die for it!” grimly persisted Reuben Gray.

And before she could reply they were interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Come in!” said Hannah, expecting to see Mrs. Jones or some other humble neighbor.

The door was pushed gently open, and a woman of exceeding beauty stood upon the threshold.

Her slender but elegant form was clothed in the deepest mourning; her pale, delicate face was shaded by the blackest ringlets; her large, dark eyes were fixed with the saddest interest upon the face of Hannah Worth.

Hannah arose in great surprise to meet her.

“You are Miss Worth, I suppose?” said the young stranger.

“Yes, miss; what is your will with me?”

“I am the Countess of Hurstmonceux.  Will you let me rest here a little while?” she asked, with a sweet smile.

Hannah gazed at the speaker in the utmost astonishment, forgetting to answer her question, or offer a seat, or even to shut the door, through which the wind was blowing fiercely.

What! was this beautiful pale young creature the Countess of Hurstmonceux, the rival of Nora, the wife of Herman Brudenell, the “bad, artful woman” who had entrapped the young Oxonian into a discreditable marriage?  Impossible!

While Hannah stood thus dumbfounded before the visitor, Reuben came forward with rude courtesy, closed the door, placed a chair before the fire, and invited the lady to be seated.

The countess, with a gentle bow of thanks, passed on, sank into a chair, and let her sable furs slip from her shoulders in a drift around her feet.