‘It is all true,’ said Gilbert, moodily, his elbows on the table and his face in his hands, ’and if the utmost misery for weeks past could be any atonement, it would be mine.  But at least I have done nothing willingly to bring them together.  I have only gone on in the hope and trust that I was some protection to poor Lucy.’

‘Fine protection,’ sighed Albinia.  ’And how has it been? how does it stand?’

’Why, they met at Brighton, I believe.  She used to walk on the chain pier before breakfast, and he met her there.  If he chooses, he can make any one do what he likes, because he does not understand no for an answer.  Then when she came home, he used to meet her on the bridge, when you sent her out for a turn in the evening, and sometimes she would make me take her out walking to meet him.  Don’t you see how utterly miserable it was for me; when they had volunteered this help all out of kindness, it was impossible for me to speak to you.’

Albinia made a sound of contempt, and said, ‘Go on.’

’That time when you and Mr. Hope saw them, Lucy was frightened, and they had a quarrel, he went away, and I hoped and trusted it had died out.  I heard no more till yesterday, when I was dragged into giving him this meeting.  It seems that he had only just discovered your absence, and wanted to take the opportunity of seeing her.  I was in hopes you would have come back; I assured him you would; but he chose to watch, till evening, and then Lucy was to meet him in the conservatory.  Poor Lucy, you must not be very angry with her, for she was much averse to it, and I enclosed a letter from her to forbid him to come.  I thought all was safe, till I actually heard their voices, and grandmamma got into an agitation, and Sophy was running about wild to find Lucy.  When you came home, papa’s opening the door frightened Lucy, and it seems that Dusautoy thought that she was going to faint and scream, and laid hold of the ink instead of the eau-de-cologne.  There!  I believe the ink would have betrayed it without me.  Now you have heard everything, Mrs. Kendal, and can believe there is not a more wretched and miserable creature breathing than I am.’

Albinia slowly rose, and put her hand to her brow, as though confused with the tissue of deceit and double dealing.

‘Oh!  Mrs. Kendal, will you not speak to me?’ I solemnly declare that I have told you all.’

‘I am thinking of your father.’

With a gesture of acquiescent anguish and despair, he let her pass, held open the door, and closed it softly, so as not to awaken the happy sleeper.

‘Good night,’ she said, coldly, and turned away, but his mournful, resigned ‘Good night,’ was so utterly broken down that her heart was touched, and turning she said, ’Good night, Gilbert, I am sorry for you; I believe it is weakness and not wickedness.’

She held out her hand, but instead of being shaken, it was pressed to his lips, and the fingers were wet with his tears.