an tell what will happen as life goes on. And, as the world is full of
scandal, one cannot be too careful not to give the scandalmongers
anything to exercise their wicked spite upon. I don't trust that young
man! he is a bad one all round, or I am very much mistaken. And, my
dear, come close to me! I cannot but see that you and he have some
secret which he is using to distress you!' She paused, and her clasp
grew closer still as Stephen's head sank on her breast. 'I know you have
done something or said something foolish of which he has a knowledge. And
I know my dear one, that whatever it was, and no matter how foolish it
may have been, it was not a wrong thing. God knows, we are all apt to do
wrong things as well as foolish ones; the best of us. But such is not
for you! Your race, your father and mother, your upbringing, yourself
and the truth and purity which are yours would save you from anything
which was in itself wrong. That I know, my dear, as well as I know
myself! Ah! better, far better! for the gods did not think it well to
dower me as they have dowered you. The God of all the gods has given you
the ten talents to guard; and He knows, as I do, that you will be
faithful to your trust.'

There was a solemn ring in her voce as the words were spoken which went
through the young girl's heart. Love and confidence demanded in return
that she should have at least the relief of certain acquiescence; there
is a possible note of pain in the tensity of every string! Stephen
lifted her head proudly and honestly, though her cheeks were scarlet,
saying with a consciousness of integrity which spoke directly soul to
soul:

'You are right, dear! I have done something very foolish; very, very
foolish! But it was nothing which any one could call wrong. Do not ask
me what it was. I need only tell you this: that it was an outrage on
convention. It was so foolish, and based on such foolish misconception;
it sprang from such over-weening, arrogant self-opinion that it deserves
the bitter punishment which will come; which is coming; which is with me
now! It was the cause of something whose blackness I can't yet realise;
but of which I will tell you when I can speak of it. But it was not
wrong in itself, or in the eyes of God or man!' The old woman said not a
word. No word was needed, for had she not already expressed her belief?
But Stephen felt her relief in the glad pressure of her finger-tips. In
a voice l