e like other people
than she fancied she had been this day. "There is Hester," thought she,
"looking nothing less than merry, and talking about whatever occurs, as
if nothing had happened since we met him last; while I sit, feeling like
a fool, with not a word to say, and no courage to say it if I had. I
wonder whether I have always been as insignificant and dull as I have
seen myself to be to-day. I do not believe I ever thought about the
matter before: I wish I could forget it now." Notwithstanding her
feeling of insignificance in the drawing-room, however, she was so
impatient to be there again that her hands trembled with eagerness in
doing up the parcel for Mrs Levitt.

When she re-entered the drawing-room, Philip was there alone--standing
by the fire. Margaret's first impulse was to retreat; but her better
judgment prevailed in time to intercept the act. Philip said:

"Mr and Mrs Hope have, at my desire, given me the opportunity of
speaking to you alone. You must not refuse to hear what I have to say,
because it is necessary to the vindication of my honour;--and it is also
due to another person."

Of course, Margaret sat down. She seemed to intend to speak, and Philip
waited to hear her; but no words came, so he went on.

"You have been told, I find, that I have been for some time engaged to a
lady who is now at Rome--Miss Bruce. How such a notion originated, we
need not inquire. The truth is, that I am but slightly acquainted with
Miss Bruce, and that nothing has ever occurred which could warrant such
a use of that lady's name. I heard nothing of this till to-day, and--"

"Is it possible?" breathed Margaret.

"I was shocked to hear of it from my poor mother; but infinitely more
shocked--grieved to the very soul, to find that you, Margaret, believed
it."

"How could we help it? It was your sister who told us."

"What does my sister know of me compared with you? I thought--I hoped--
but I see now that I was presumptuous--I thought that you knew me
enough, and cared for me enough, to understand my mind, and trust my
conduct through whatever you might hear of me from others. I have been
deceived--I mean I have deceived myself, as to the relation in which we
stand. I do not blame you, Margaret--that is, I will not if I can help
it--for what you have given credit to about me; but I did not think you
would have mortified me so deeply."

"You are partly wrong now; you are unjust at this moment,"