’Don’t say that, and don’t think it.  We are both going to make more of our lives; we are going to think very little of the past, and a great deal of the future.  We are still young; we have happiness before us.’

‘We?’ she asked, with shaken voice.

’Yes—­both of us!  Who can say’——­

Again he took her hand and pressed it warmly in both his own.  Just then the door opened, and dinner was announced.  Christian talked on, in low hurried tones, for several minutes, affectionately, encouragingly.  After dinner, he wished to resume the subject, but Marcella declared that there was no more to be said; he must act as honour and discretion bade him; for herself, she should simply keep silence as hitherto.  And she left him to his reflections.

Though with so little of ascertained fact to guide her, Marcella interpreted the hints afforded by her slight knowledge of the Warricombes with singular accuracy.  Precisely as she had imagined, Buckland Warricombe was going about on Peak’s track, learning all he could concerning the theological student, forming acquaintance with anyone likely to supplement his discoveries.  And less than a fortnight after the meeting at the theatre, Christian made known to his sister that Warricombe and he had had a second conversation, this time uninterrupted.

’He inquired after you, Marcella, and—­really I had no choice but to ask him to call here.  I hardly think he’ll come.  He’s not the kind of man I care for—­though liberal enough, and all that.’

‘Wasn’t it rather rash to give that invitation?’

’The fact was, I so dreaded the appearance of—­of seeming to avoid him,’ Christian pleaded, awkwardly.  ’You know, that affair—­we won’t talk any more of it; but, if there should be a row about it, you are sure to be compromised unless we have managed to guard ourselves.  If Warricombe calls, we must talk about Peak without the least show of restraint.  Let it appear that we thought his choice of a profession unlikely, but not impossible.  Happily, we needn’t know anything about that anonymous Critical article.—­Indeed, I think I have acted wisely.’

Marcella murmured: 

‘Yes, I suppose you have.’

’And, by the way, I have spoken of it to Earwaker.  Not of your part in the story, of course.  I told him that I had met a man who knew all about Peak.—­Impossible, you see, for me to keep silence with so intimate a friend.’

‘Then Mr. Earwaker will write to him?’ said Marcella, reflectively.

‘I couldn’t give him any address.’

‘How does Mr. Warricombe seem to regard Mr. Peak?’

’With a good deal of interest, and of the friendliest kind.  Naturally enough; they were College friends, as you know, before I had heard of Peak’s existence.’

‘He has no suspicions?’

Christian thought not, but her brother’s judgment had not much weight with Marcella.