t
disgusted her, but she recognised it as a real danger to be watched by
their anxious relatives. That _love_, however--what she understood by
_love_--could be felt by the lower orders, the people who "walked
together" and "kept company" before mating, was too incredible.
Even if driven by evidence to admit the fact she would have set it down
to the pernicious encroachment of Board School education, and remarked
that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

"'Love!' My poor child, don't profane a word you cannot possibly
understand. A nice love, indeed, that shows itself by ruining his
life!"

That second-hand phrase again! As it slipped out, the indomitable
Bassett dealt it another blow.

"I am not sure, miss, that I love him any longer--in the same way, I
mean. I should always have a regard for him--for many reasons--and
because he behaved honourably in a way. But I couldn't quite believe in
him as I did before he showed himself weak."

"Well, of all the--" Miss Bracy's lips were open for a word to fit this
offence, when Bassett followed it up with a worse one.

"I beg your pardon, miss, but you are so fond of Mr. Frank--Supposing I
refused his offer, would you marry him yourself?"

The girl, too, meant it quite seriously. In her tone was no trace of
impudence. She had divined her adversary's secret, and thrust home the
question with a kind of anxious honesty. Miss Bracy, red and gasping,
tingling with shame, yet knew that she was not being exulted over.
She dropped the unequal fight between conventional argument and naked
insight, and stood up, woman to woman. She neither denied nor
exclaimed. She too told the truth.

"Never!"--she paused. "After what has happened I would never marry my
cousin."

"I thought that, miss. You mean it, I am sure; and it eases my mind;
because you have been a good mistress to me, and it would always have
been a sorry thought that I'd stood in your way. Not that it would have
prevented me."

"Do you still stand there and tell me that you will hold this unhappy
boy to his word?"

"He's twenty-two, miss; my own age. Yes, I shall hold him to it."

"To save yourself!"

"No, miss."

"For his own sake, then?" Miss Bracy's laugh was passing bitter.

"No, miss--though there might be something in that."

"For whose then?"

The girl did not answer. But in the silence her mistress understood,
and moved to the door. She was beaten, and she knew it; beaten and
u