“No;—­but I meant to tell him.  I determined that I would tell him had he lived.  When he sent for me I swore that I would tell him.  If he is dying,—­how can I say it?” Lady Ushant sat bewildered, thinking over it, understanding nothing of the world in which this girl had lived, and not knowing now how things could have been as she described them.  It was not as yet three months since, to her knowledge, this young woman had been staying at Bragton as the affianced bride of the owner of the house,—­staying there with her own mother and his grandmother,—­and now she declared that since that time she had become engaged to another man and that that other man had already jilted her!  And yet she was here that she might make a deathbed parting with the man who regarded himself as her affianced husband.  “If I were sure that he were dying, why should I trouble him?” she said again.

Lady Ushant found herself utterly unable to give any counsel to such a condition of circumstances.  Why should she be asked?  This young woman had her mother with her.  Did her mother know all this, and nevertheless bring her daughter to the house of a man who had been so treated!  “I really do not know what to say,” she replied at last.

“But I was determined that I would tell some one.  I thought that Mrs. Morton would have been here.”  Lady Ushant shook her head.  “I am glad she is not, because she was not civil to me when I was here before.  She would have said hard things to me,—­though not perhaps harder than I have deserved.  I suppose I may still see him to-morrow.”

“Oh yes; he expects it”

“I shall not tell him now.  I could not tell him if I thought he were dying.  If he gets better you must tell him all.”

“I don’t think I could do that, Miss Trefoil.”

“Pray do;—­pray do.  I call upon you to tell him everything.”

“Tell him that you will be married to Lord Rufford?”

“No;—­not that.  If Mr. Morton were well to-morrow I would have him,—­if he chose after what I have told you.”

“You do love him then?”

“At any rate I like no one better.”

“Not the young lord?”

“No! why should I like him?  He does not love me.  I hate him.  I would marry Mr. Morton tomorrow, and go with him to Patagonia, or anywhere else,—­if he would have me after hearing what I have done.”  Then she rose from her chair; but before she left the room she said a word further.  “Do not speak a word to my mother about this.  Mamma knows nothing of my purpose.  Mamma only wants me to marry Lord Rufford, and to throw Mr. Morton over.  Do not tell anyone else, Lady Ushant; but if he is ever well enough then you must tell him.”  After that she went, leaving Lady Ushant in the room astounded by the story she had heard.

VOLUME III

CHAPTER I

“I have told him Everything.”