“Can you reckon on the Englishman forgiving you?”

“I think so.”

“Then we must go back to Leghorn.  Are you strong enough to follow this counsel?  I warn you that if you approve of it, it must be put into execution at once.  Young, pretty, and virtuous as you are, you need not imagine that I shall allow you to go by yourself, or in the company of strangers.  If you think I love you, and find me worthy of your esteem, that is sufficient regard for me.  I will live with you like a father, if you are not in a position to give me marks of a more ardent affection.  Be sure I will keep faith with you, for I want to redeem your opinion of men, and to shew you that there are men as honourable as your seducer was vile.”

Betty remained for a quarter of an hour in profound silence, her head resting on her elbows, and her eyes fixed on mine.  She did not seem either angry or astonished, but as far as I could judge was lost in thought.  I was glad to see her reflective, for thus she would be able to give me a decided answer:  At last she said: 

“You need not think, my dear friend, that my silence proceeds from irresolution.  If my mind were not made up already I should despise myself.  I am wise enough at any rate to appreciate the wisdom of your generous counsels.  I thank Providence that I have fallen into the hands of such a man who will treat me as if I were his daughter.”

“Then we will go back to Leghorn, and start immediately.”

“My only doubt is how to manage my reconciliation with Sir B——­ M——.  I have no doubt he will pardon me eventually; but though he is tender and good-hearted he is delicate where a point of honour is concerned, and Subject to sudden fits of violence.  This is what I want to avoid; for he might possibly kill me, and then I should be the cause of his ruin.”

“You must consider it on the way, and tell me any plans you may think of.”

“He is an intelligent man, and it would be hopeless to endeavour to dupe him by a lie.  I must make a full confession in writing without hiding a single circumstance; for if he thought he was being duped his fury would be terrible.  If you will write to him you must not say that you think me worthy of forgiveness; you must tell him the facts and leave him to judge for himself.  He will be convinced of my repentance when he reads the letter I shall bedew with my tears, but he must not know of my whereabouts till he has promised to forgive me.  He is a slave to his word of honour, and we shall live together all our days without my ever hearing of this slip.  I am only sorry that I have behaved so foolishly.”

“You must not be offended if I ask you whether you have ever given him like cause for complaint before.”

“Never.”

“What is his history?”