’Because I was such a—­because she did not know of the connection between me and my cousin until then.’

‘I must think she did.’

‘On what ground?’

’On the strong ground of my having told her so, distinctly, the very first day she came to live with me.’

’Well, what do you seek to impress upon me after all?  This—­that the day Miss Graye wrote to me, saying it was better that we should part, coincided with the day she had seen a certain man—­’

‘A remarkably handsome and talented man.’

‘Yes, I admit that.’

’And that it coincided with the hour just subsequent to her seeing him.’

‘Yes, just when she had seen him.’

‘And been to his house alone with him.’

‘It is nothing.’

‘And stayed there playing and singing with him.’

‘Admit that, too,’ he said; ‘an accident might have caused it.’

’And at the same instant that she wrote your dismissal she wrote a letter referring to a secret appointment with him.’

‘Never, by God, madam! never!’

‘What do you say, sir?’

‘Never.’

She sneered.

’There’s no accounting for beliefs, and the whole history is a very trivial matter; but I am resolved to prove that a lady’s word is truthful, though upon a matter which concerns neither you nor herself.  You shall learn that she did write him a letter concerning an assignation—­that is, if Mr. Manston still has it, and will be considerate enough to lend it me.’

‘But besides,’ continued Edward, ’a married man to do what would cause a young girl to write a note of the kind you mention!’

She flushed a little.

‘That I don’t know anything about,’ she stammered.  ’But Cytherea didn’t, of course, dream any more than I did, or others in the parish, that he was married.’

‘Of course she didn’t.’

’And I have reason to believe that he told her of the fact directly afterwards, that she might not compromise herself, or allow him to.  It is notorious that he struggled honestly and hard against her attractions, and succeeded in hiding his feelings, if not in quenching them.’

‘We’ll hope that he did.’

‘But circumstances are changed now.’

‘Very greatly changed,’ he murmured abstractedly.

‘You must remember,’ she added more suasively, ’that Miss Graye has a perfect right to do what she likes with her own—­her heart, that is to say.’

Her descent from irritation was caused by perceiving that Edward’s faith was really disturbed by her strong assertions, and it gratified her.

Edward’s thoughts flew to his father, and the object of his interview with her.  Tongue-fencing was utterly distasteful to him.

‘I will not trouble you by remaining longer, madam,’ he remarked, gloomily; ‘our conversation has ended sadly for me.’

‘Don’t think so,’ she said, ’and don’t be mistaken.  I am older than you are, many years older, and I know many things.’