atch a glimpse of, and who Arthur, with such an
air of mystery, told us was his mamma's friend?'

'Yes, Rose, I remember it all; and I can forgive your uncharitable
conclusions; for, perhaps, if I did not know her myself, I should put all
these things together, and believe the same as you do; but thank God, I
do know her; and I should be unworthy the name of a man, if I could
believe anything that was said against her, unless I heard it from her
own lips.--I should as soon believe such things of you, Rose.'

'Oh, Gilbert!'

'Well, do you think I could believe anything of the kind,--whatever the
Wilsons and Millwards dared to whisper?'

'I should hope not indeed!'

'And why not?--Because I know you--Well, and I know her just as well.'

'Oh, no! you know nothing of her former life; and last year, at this
time, you did not know that such a person existed.'

'No matter. There is such a thing as looking through a person's eyes
into the heart, and learning more of the height, and breadth, and depth
of another's soul in one hour than it might take you a lifetime to
discover, if he or she were not disposed to reveal it, or if you had not
the sense to understand it.'

'Then you are going to see her this evening?'

'To be sure I am!'

'But what would mamma say, Gilbert!'

'Mamma needn't know.'

'But she must know some time, if you go on.'

'Go on!--there's no going on in the matter. Mrs. Graham and I are two
friends--and will be; and no man breathing shall hinder it,--or has a
right to interfere between us.'

'But if you knew how they talk you would be more careful, for her sake as
well as for your own. Jane Wilson thinks your visits to the old hall but
another proof of her depravity--'

'Confound Jane Wilson!'

'And Eliza Millward is quite grieved about you.'

'I hope she is.'

'But I wouldn't, if I were you.'

'Wouldn't what?--How do they know that I go there?'

'There's nothing hid from them: they spy out everything.'

'Oh, I never thought of this!--And so they dare to turn my friendship
into food for further scandal against her!--That proves the falsehood of
their other lies, at all events, if any proof were wanting.--Mind you
contradict them, Rose, whenever you can.'

'But they don't speak openly to me about such things: it is only by hints
and innuendoes, and by what I hear others say, that I knew what they
think.'

'Well, then, I won't go to-day, as it's getting latish. But oh, deuce
take