‘And what did Charlotte say?’

’I think she was crying; but I thought listening any more would be unfair, so I ran upstairs and threw up the drawing-room window to warn them.’

‘Oh, Mary, how unfeeling!’

‘I thought it could be doing no good!’

’That is so like prudent people, who can allow no true love under five hundred pounds a year!  Did you see them?  How did they look?’

’Charlotte was standing in an attitude, her hands clasped over her broom.  The gentleman was a country-looking boy—­’

’Bearing himself like a sensible, pugnacious cock-robin?  Poor fellow, so you marred their parting.’

’Charlotte flew into the house, and the boy walked off up the garden.  Was he your Madison, Louis? for I thought my aunt did not think it right to encourage him about her house.’

’And so he is to be thwarted in what would best raise and refine him.  That great, bright leading star of a well-placed affection is not to be allowed to help him through all the storms and quicksands in his way.’

Good Mary might well open her eyes, but, pondering a little, she said, ’He need not leave off liking Charlotte, if that is to do him good; but I suppose the question is, what is safest for her?’

‘Well, he is safe enough.  He is gone to Illershall to earn her.’

’Oh! then I don’t care!  But you have not answered me, and I think I can guess the boy’s secret that you have been keeping.  Did you not once tell me that you trusted those stones in Ferny dell to him?’

‘Now, Mary, you must keep his secret!’

’But why was it made one?  Did you think it unkind to say that it was his fault?’

’Of course I did.  When I thought it was all over with me, I could not go and charge the poor fellow with it, so as to make him a marked man.  I was only afraid that thinking so often of stopping myself, I should bring it out by mistake.’

Mary looked down, and thought; then raised her eyes suddenly, and said, as if surprised, ‘That was really very noble in you, Louis!’ Then, thinking on, she said, ’But how few people would think it worth while!’

‘Yes,’ said Louis; ’but I had a real regard for this poor fellow, and an instinct, perhaps perverse, of shielding him; so I could not accuse him on my own account.  Besides, I believe I am far more guilty towards him.  His neglect only hurt my ankle—­my neglect left him to fall into temptation.’

‘Yet, by the way he talks of you—­’

’Yes, he has the sort of generous disposition on which a little delicacy makes a thousand times more impression than a whole pile of benefits I hope and trust that he is going to repair all that is past.  I wish I could make out whether good intentions overrule errors in detail, or only make them more fatal.’

Mary was glad to reason out the question.  Abstract practical views interested her, and she had much depth and observation, more original than if she had read more and thought less.  Of course, no conclusion was arrived at; but the two cousins had an argument of much enjoyment and some advantage to both.