“Good!  A little before Higgs came here, the Mayor, as he now is, poor, handsome, generous to a fault so far as he had the wherewithal, was adored by all the women of his own rank in Sunch’ston.  Report said that he had adored many of them in return, but after having known me for a very few days, he asked me to marry him, protesting that he was a changed man.  I liked him, as every one else did, but I was not in love with him, and said so; he said he would give me as much time as I chose, if I would not point-blank refuse him; and so the matter was left.

“Within a week or so Higgs was brought to the prison, and he had not been there long before I found, or thought I found, that I liked him better than I liked Strong.  I was a fool—­but there!  As for Higgs, he liked, but did not love me.  If I had let him alone he would have done the like by me; and let each other alone we did, till the day before he was taken down to the capital.  On that day, whether through his fault or mine I know not—­we neither of us meant it—­it was as though Nature, my dear, was determined that you should not slip through her fingers—­well, on that day we took it into our heads that we were broken-hearted lovers—­the rest followed.  And how, my dearest boy, as I look upon you, can I feign repentance?

“My husband, who never saw Higgs, and knew nothing about him except the too little that I told him, pressed his suit, and about a month after Higgs had gone, having recovered my passing infatuation for him, I took kindly to the Mayor and accepted him, without telling him what I ought to have told him—­but the words stuck in my throat.  I had not been engaged to him many days before I found that there was something which I should not be able to hide much longer.

“You know, my dear, that my mother had been long dead, and I never had a sister or any near kinswoman.  At my wits’ end who I should consult, instinct drew me to Mrs. Humdrum, then a woman of about five-and-forty.  She was a grand lady, while I was about the rank of one of my own housemaids.  I had no claim on her; I went to her as a lost dog looks into the faces of people on a road, and singles out the one who will most surely help him.  I had had a good look at her once as she was putting on her gloves, and I liked the way she did it.  I marvel at my own boldness.  At any rate, I asked to see her, and told her my story exactly as I have now told it to you.

“‘You have no mother?’ she said, when she had heard all.

“‘No.’

“’Then, my dear, I will mother you myself.  Higgs is out of the question, so Strong must marry you at once.  We will tell him everything, and I, on your behalf, will insist upon it that the engagement is at an end.  I hear good reports of him, and if we are fair towards him he will be generous towards us.  Besides, I believe he is so much in love with you that he would sell his soul to get you.  Send him to me.  I can deal with him better than you can.’”