‘The letters?’ he said,—­but almost as if he were ashamed to question that countenance any further.

’I gave him one letter,—­of which I did not write a word,—­which, in fact, I believe to have been merely an envelope, without any writing whatever inside.  The giving that letter,—­the two interviews I have named,—­make all the private intercourse I have had with Mr. Preston.  Oh! papa, what have they been saying that has grieved—­shocked you so much?’

’Never mind.  As the world goes, what you say you have done, Molly, is ground enough.  You must tell me all.  I must be able to refute these rumours point by point.’

’How are they to be refuted; when you say that the truth which I have acknowledged is ground enough for what people are saying?’

’You say you were not acting for yourself, but for another.  If you tell me who the other was,—­if you tell me everything out fully, I will do my utmost to screen her—­for of course I guess it was Cynthia—­while I am exonerating you.’

‘No, papa!’ said Molly, after some little consideration; ’I have told you all I can tell; all that concerns myself; and I have promised not to say one word more.’

’Then your character will be impugned.  It must be, unless the fullest explanation of these secret meetings is given.  I have a great mind to force the whole truth out of Preston himself!’

’Papa! once again I beg you to trust me.  If you ask Mr. Preston you will very likely hear the whole truth; but that is just what I have been trying so hard to conceal, for it will only make several people very unhappy if it is known, and the whole affair is over and done with now.’

’Not your share in it.  Miss Browning sent for me this evening to tell me how people were talking about you.  She implied that it was a complete loss of your good name.  You do not know, Molly, how slight a thing may blacken a girl’s reputation for life.  I had hard work to stand all she said, even though I did not believe a word of it at the time.  And now you have told me that much of it is true.’

’But I think you are a brave man, papa.  And you believe me, don’t you?  We shall outlive these rumours, never fear.’

‘You don’t know the power of ill-natured tongues, child,’ said he.

’Oh, now you’ve called me “child” again I don’t care for anything.  Dear, dear papa, I’m sure it is best and wisest to take no notice of these speeches.  After all they may not mean them ill-naturedly.  I am sure Miss Browning would not.  By-and-by they’ll quite forget how much they made out of so little,—­and even if they don’t, you would not have me break my solemn word, would you?’

’Perhaps not.  But I cannot easily forgive the person who, by practising on your generosity, led you into this scrape.  You are very young, and look upon these things as merely temporary evils.  I have more experience.’

’Still, I don’t see what I can do now, papa.  Perhaps I’ve been foolish; but what I did, I did of my ownself.  It was not suggested to me.  And I’m sure it was not wrong in morals, whatever it might be in judgment.  As I said, it is all over now; what I did ended the affair, I am thankful to say; and it was with that object I did it.  If people choose to talk about me, I must submit; and so must you, dear papa.’