g on a correspondence with Miss Ashton, and your
love-making with Lady Maude?"

Val nodded assent, looking really ashamed of himself.

"And you call yourself a man of honour! Why, you are the greatest
humbug--"

"That's enough; no need to sum it up. I see all I've been."

"I understood you to imply that your correspondence with Miss Ashton had
ceased."

"It was renewed. Dr. Ashton came up to preach one Sunday, just before
Christmas, and he and I got friendly again; you know I never can be
unfriendly with any one long. The next day I wrote to Anne, and we have
corresponded since; more coolly though than we used to do. Circumstances
have been really against me. Had they continued at Ventnor, I should have
gone down and spent my Christmas with them, and nothing of this would
have happened; but they must needs go to Dr. Ashton's sister's in
Yorkshire for Christmas; and there they are still. It was in that
miserable Christmas week that the mischief occurred. And now you have
the whole, Carr. I know I've been a fool; but what is to be done?"

"Lord Hartledon," was the grave rejoinder, "I am unable to give you
advice in this. Your conduct is indefensible."

"Don't 'Lord Hartledon' me: I won't stand it. Carr?"

"Well?"

"If you bring up against me a string of reproaches lasting until night
will that mend matters? I am conscious of possessing but one true friend
in the world, and that's yourself. You must stand by me."

"I was your friend; never a truer. But I believed you to be a man of
honour."

Hartledon lifted his hat from his brow; as though the brow alone were
heavy enough just then. At least the thought struck Mr. Carr.

"I have been drawn unwittingly into this, as I have into other things. I
never meant to do wrong. As to dishonour, Heaven knows my nature shrinks
from it."

"If your nature does, you don't," came the severe answer. "I should feel
ashamed to put forth the same plea always of 'falling unwittingly' into
disgrace. You have done it ever since you were a schoolboy. Talk of the
Elster folly! this has gone beyond it. This is dishonour. Engaged to one
girl, and corresponding with her; making hourly love for weeks to
another! May I inquire which of the two you really care for?"

"Anne--I suppose."

"You suppose!"

"You make me wild, talking like this. Of course it's Anne. Maude has
managed to creep into my regard, though, in no common degree. She is very
lovely, very fascinating and amiable."