then, on the instant."

"But there was no question. He came to me one day and made me an
offer. I will tell you everything, and I think you will believe me.
I found him holding a position of respect, at Littlebath, and I was
all alone in the world. Why should I not listen to him? I gave him no
answer, but told him to speak to me again after a while. Then came my
poor brother's illness and death; and after that came, as you know,
the loss of all my money. In the meantime Mr Maguire had written,
but as I knew that my brother's family must trust to me for their
support--that, at least, John was my hope then--I answered him that
my means were not the same as before, and that everything must be
over. Then he wrote to me again after I had lost my money, and once
I answered him. I wrote to him so that he should know that nothing
could come of it. Here are all his letters, and I have a copy of
the last I wrote to him." So saying, she pulled the papers out
of her desk,--the desk in which still lay the torn shreds of her
poetry,--and handed them to him. "After that, what right had he to
come here and make such a statement as he did to my aunt? How can he
be a gentleman, and say what was so false?"

"No one says that he is a gentleman," replied John Ball, as he took
the proffered papers.

"I have told you all now," said she; and as she spoke, a gleam of
anger flashed from her eyes, for she was not in all respects a
Griselda such as she of old. "I have told you all now, and if further
excuse be wanting, I have none further to make."

Slowly he read the letters, still standing up on the hearth-rug, and
then he folded them again into their shapes, and slowly gave them
back to her.

"There is no doubt," said he, "as to his being a blackguard. He was
hunting for your money, and now that he knows you have got none, he
will trouble you no further." Then he made a move from the place on
which he stood, as if he were going.

"And is that to be all, John?" she said.

"I shall see you to-morrow," he replied. "I am not going to town."

"But is that to be all to-night?"

"It is very late," and he looked at his watch. "I do not see that any
good can come of talking more about it now. Good-night to you."

"Good-night," she said. Then she waited till the door was closed, and
when he was gone she threw herself upon the bed. Alas! alas! Now once
more was she ruined, and her present ruin was ruin indeed.

She threw herself on the bed,