‘You would wait,’ said poor Mary, striving with choking tears, ’and be sorry you had waited.’

’Are you talking madness, Mary?  I should live for the moment to compensate for all.’

’You would waste your best years, and when the time came, you would still be young, and I grown into an old careworn woman.  You would find you had waited for what was nothing worth!’

‘How can you talk so!’ cried Louis, wounded, ’when you know that to cherish and make up to you would be my dearest, fondest wish!  No, don’t shake your head!  You know it is not a young rose and lily beauty that I love,—­it is the honest, earnest glance in my Mary’s eyes, the rest, and trust, and peace, whenever I do but come near her.  Time can’t take that away!’

‘Pray,’ said Mary, feebly, ’don’t let us discuss it now.  I know it is right.  I was determined to say it to-day, that the worst might be over, but I can’t argue, nor bear your kindness now.  Please let it wait.’

’Yes, let it wait.  It is depression.  You will see it in a true light when you have recovered the shock, and don’t fancy all must be given up together.  Lie down and rest; I am sure you have been awake all night.’

’I may rest now I have told you, and seen you not angry with poor papa, nor with me.  Oh!  Louis—­the gratitude to you, the weight off my mind!’

‘I don’t think any one could help taking the same view,’ said Louis.  ’It seems to me one of the cases where the immediate duty is the more clear because it is so very painful.  Mary, I think that you are committing your way unto the Lord, and you know ’He shall bring it to pass.’’

As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and Miss Ponsonby, stiffly entering, said, ’Excuse my interruption, but I hope Lord Fitzjocelyn will be considerate enough not to harass you any longer with solicitations to act against your conscience.’

‘He is not persuading me,’ said Mary, turning towards her aunt a face which, through all her dejection, proved her peace in his support and approval, ‘he is helping me.’

‘Yes,’ said Louis to the astonished aunt; ’since I have heard the true state of the case, I have been convinced that there is no choice for her but to go out, to repair the injustice so unfortunately done to this poor lady.  It is a noble resolution, and I perfectly concur with her.’

‘I am glad you think so properly, sir,’ returned Miss Ponsonby.  ’Lord Ormersfield seems quite of another opinion.  He was desirous of seeing you, Mary; but I have been telling him I could permit no more interviews to-day.’

‘Oh no,’ said Mary, putting her hand to her head, as if it could bear no more; ’not to-day!  Louis, tell him how it is.  Make him forgive me; but do not let me see him yet.’

‘You shall see no one,’ said Louis, tenderly; ’you shall rest.  There—­’ and, as if he had the sole right to her, he arranged the cushions, placed her on the sofa, and hung over her to chafe her hands, and bathe her forehead with eau de Cologne; while, as he detected signs of hasty preparations about the room, he added, ’Don’t trouble yourself with your arrangements; I will see about all I can to help you.  Only rest, and cure your head.’