Thus adjured, Clemence, with an effort to recover herself, entered quietly the room where the gentleman awaited her.  After a little desultory conversation, he came at once to the object of his visit.

It was as Clemence had feared, and she felt pained to reject the offer which was now made her in a straightforward, business-like manner.

She thanked him gratefully, speaking of her present isolated and unhappy position.

“Yes,” said Mr. Strain, complacently stroking his moustache, and seeming in no wise disconcerted by his rejection, “I had heard of your little difficulty, and it was with that in view that I called to offer you my protection.  I thought if you were once my wife, that these gossipping tongues could be effectually silenced.”

“Indeed, I thank you sincerely for your generosity and magnanimity,” said Clemence, “and I shall ever remember you with a sense of deep obligation.”

“Oh, you owe me no thanks,” said the gentleman, gazing upon her disturbed face, admiringly, “even if I believed the fabrications of your enemies, it would not have altered my resolution.  I am not, as you may have observed, exactly one of these people.  I have moved amid far different scenes in my time, and my views of life are of the most liberal sort imaginable.  I consider that I, too, have my weaknesses and foibles, in common with the rest of mankind, and I do not look for exalted virtues in any one.  I admired you from the first, and resolved to make an effort to win you.  Of my success, you are the best judge, but that, I am happy to say, does not alter our mutual regard and esteem.

“Furthermore, I can say from personal knowledge, (confidentially, of course) that not one of these worthy ladies who have denounced you, would dare to utter or whisper a word against you as my wife, for I am already too deeply in their confidence not to render the attempt dangerous, as well as disagreeable.

“My dear girl,” he added lightly, “this is no place for an angel like you, now that you have repulsed the only man who might have befriended you.  In losing me, you lose everything, for you must be aware that it would be sheer folly in me to detract from my own popularity, by defending one who denies me even the right to do so.  And since I cannot trust myself to enjoy the dangerous privilege of your friendship, I shall find consolation in the ambition that has engrossed me in the past, and rendered me, until the present moment, invulnerable to the charms of the fairer portion of creation.”

Clemence felt a hysterical inclination to laugh and cry too, when she found herself alone, and was only certain of one fact, that this morning’s work had added to her troubles, not lightened them.

“Such a day as I have had!” said Mrs. Wynn, coming in about tea-time.  “You are the talk of the town.  That little nobody of an Owen has managed to stir up one muss, I can tell you.  I s’pose, though, if it hadn’t been her, some of the rest would have made up something on their own hook.  You see, the women have all been jealous of you from the first, and they meant to put you down if they could, and have only been waiting for a good chance.