d. What are you, Edward,
between me and him? It is my right to know how I have offended him. I
require no more than my right. I do not ask him to love me; nor need I,
for he loves me still--I know it and feel it."

"It is true," said Enderby, mournfully gazing upon her agitated
countenance, but retreating as he gazed.

"I do not ask to be yours, any farther than I am now--now when our
affections are true, and our word is broken. But I do insist upon your
esteem, as far as I have ever possessed it. I have done nothing to
forfeit it; and I demand your reasons for supposing that I have."

"Not now," said Philip, faintly, shrinking in the presence of the two
concerning whom he entertained so painful a complexity of feelings.
There stood Hope, firm as the pillar behind him. There stood Margaret,
agitated, but unabashed as the angels that come in dreams. Was it
possible that these two had loved? Could they then stand before him
thus? But Mrs Grey--what she admitted!--this, in confirmation with
other evidence, could not be cast aside. Yet Philip dared not speak,
fearing to injure beyond reparation.

"Oh, Margaret, not now!" he faintly repeated. "My heart is almost
broken! Give me time."

"You have given me none. Let that pass, however. But I cannot give you
time. I cannot hold out--who can hold out, under injurious secrecy--
under mocking injustice--under torturing doubt from the one who is
pledged to the extreme of confidence? Let us once understand one
another, and we will never meet more, and I will endure whatever must be
endured, and we shall have time--Oh, what a weary time!--to learn to
submit. But not till you have given me the confidence you owe--the last
I shall ever ask from you--will I endure one moment's suspense. I will
not give you time."

"Yes, Margaret, you will--you must," said Hope. "It is hard, very hard;
but Enderby is so far right."

"God help me, for every one is against me!" cried Margaret, sinking down
among the long grass, and laying her throbbing head upon the cold stone.
"He comes without notice to terrify me by his anger--me whom he loves
above all the world; he leaves my heart to break with his unkindness in
the midst of all these indifferent people; he denies me the explanation
I demand; and you--you of all others, tell me he is right! I will do
without protection, since the two who owe it forsake me: but God is my
witness how you wrong me."

"Enderby, why do not yo