I guessed that they had come in by the postern gate and would return that way, and I did not dare to stir till they had come back again.  They did not, however, take so long.  They came back again very soon, whispering as they had gone; and as soon as I judged it safe I left the glade and hurried home as fast as ever I could resolving to have the postern gate bolted so that Richard Dawson should not dare to come into our woods, and resolving also to see and speak with Nora Brady as soon as ever I had a chance.  Perhaps, indeed, she would not listen to me, but I could only do my best.

As it happened, my opportunity came sooner than I had expected; for it was only next day that I met her coming with a basket of eggs to the Abbey.

She dropped me a curtsey and would have passed on, but I stopped her.  We were all alone in the wide avenue, as much alone to all intents and purposes as we could have been anywhere.  I went straight to the point, feeling the painfulness of having to speak and doing it as directly as possible.

“Nora,” I said, “I am only a girl like yourself, so don’t be frightened of me.  I always thought you a good girl, Nora, but I saw you walking yesterday in the wood with Mr. Dawson of Damerstown, and you were like lovers, and that ought not to be so unless you are going to marry him.”

“Oh, Miss Bawn!”

Poor Nora’s face was covered with confusion, and I am sure I blushed as hotly as she did, yet I was conscious of a cold, shrinking feeling from this courtship between her and Richard Dawson which I was sure could lead to no good.

“It isn’t right, Nora,” I said.

“God help me!  I know that, Miss Bawn,” she said, looking at me with frightened eyes.  “I’ve tried to give it up; I’ve tried to resist him, but I can’t.  There’s something stronger than myself that drives me to him.  I love him, Miss Bawn, so I do; and I can’t help it that he’s a rich gentleman and I’m only a poor girl.  If you ever loved any one yourself, Miss Bawn, you’d know.”

“I do know, Nora,” I said.  I knew that if Anthony Cardew lifted his finger to me I would follow him over the world.  “I do know.  But it can only end in misery, unless Mr. Dawson were willing to marry you.”

“He has never said a word about marriage.  But you mustn’t think he’s bad, Miss Bawn.  ’Tis my own fault, for I love him so much, and he can’t help seeing it.  But he’s never said a word he mightn’t say to a lady.  There’s the kissing——­”

“Yes, there’s the kissing.  It oughtn’t to be, Nora.”  As I said it I felt what a poor hypocrite I was, for I could never have resisted Anthony Cardew if he had wished to kiss me, never, never, no matter what trouble or misery it involved.  “You ought to go away, Nora, out of the reach of temptation.  There is no one dependent on you; no one for whose sake you need dread to go.  The only thing would be to go away.”

“I’ve thought of it, Miss Bawn, but sure, if he wanted me I’d only have to come back.”