Letty listened in sheer bewilderment.  The position in which she found herself was so alarmingly novel, it made such a whirlpool in her quiet life, that it was all she could do to struggle with the throbbing of her heart and attempt to gather her thoughts.  She did not even reflect that her eyes were fixed on Hubert’s in a steady gaze.  Only the sound of his voice after silence aided her to some degree of collectedness.

’There is every reason why you should accuse me of worse than impertinence,’ Hubert continued, less impulsively.  ’I can only ask your forgiveness.  Miss Waltham may very likely refuse to see me, but, if you would ask her—­’

Letty was borne on a torrent of strange thoughts.  How could this man, who spoke with such impressive frankness, with such persuasiveness, be the abandoned creature that she had of late believed him?  With Adela’s secret warm in her heart she could not but feel an interest in Hubert, and the interest was becoming something like zeal on his behalf.  During the past two hours her mind had been occupied with him exclusively; his words when he left her at the stile had sounded so good and tender that she began to question whether there was any truth at all in the evil things said about him.  The latest story had just been declared baseless by no less an authority than the vicar, who surely was not a man to maintain friendship with a worthless profligate.  What did it all mean?  She had heard only half an hour ago of Adela’s positive acceptance of Mutimer, and was wretched about it; secure in her own love-match, it was the mystery of mysteries that Adela should consent to marry a man she could scarcely endure.  And here a chance of rescue seemed to be offering; was it not her plain duty to give what help she might?

‘You have probably not seen her since I gave you the book?’ Hubert said, perceiving that Letty was quite at a loss for words.

‘No, I haven’t seen her at all to-day,’ was the reply.  ’Do you wish me to go to-night?’

‘You consent to do me this great kindness?’

Letty blushed.  Was she not committing herself too hastily

‘There cannot be any harm in giving your message,’ she said, half interrogatively, her timidity throwing itself upon Hubert’s honour.

‘Surely no harm in that.’

‘But do you know that she—­have you heard—?’

’Yes, I know.  She has accepted an offer of marriage.  It was because I heard of it that I came to you.  You are her nearest friend; you can speak to her as others would not venture to.  I ask only for five minutes.  I entreat her to grant me that.’

To add to her perturbation, Letty was in dread of hearing Alfred’s ring at the door; she durst not prolong this interview.

‘I will tell her,’ she said.  ‘If I can, I will see her to-night.’

’And how can I hear the result?  I am afraid to ask you—­if you would write one line to me at Agworth?  I am staying at my mother’s house.’