Cecilia has not told him?"

"Why should she tell him? I don't think that it is a thing we need
talk about. You may be quite sure that Cecilia has done what is
proper." In saying this Mrs. Holt belied her own thoughts. Cecilia
had never said a word to her about it, nor had she dared to say
a word to her own daughter on the subject. She had been intently
anxious that her daughter should be married, and when she had seen
Mr. Western in the act of falling in love, had studiously abstained
from all subjects which might bring about a reference to Sir Francis
Geraldine. But she had felt that her daughter would make that all
straight. Her daughter was so much more wise, so much more certain to
do what was right, so much more high-minded than was she, that she
considered herself bound to leave all that to Cecilia. But as the
days went on and the hour fixed for the marriage became nearer and
nearer she had become anxious. Something seemed to tell her that a
duty had been omitted. But the moment had never come in which she had
been able to ask her daughter. And now she would not endure to be
cross-examined on the subject by Miss Altifiorla.

But Miss Altifiorla was not at all afraid of Mrs. Holt, and was
determined to push the question a little further. "He ought to know,
you know. I am sure Cecilia will have thought that."

"If he ought to know then he does know," said Mrs. Holt with great
certainty. "I am sure we may leave all that to Cecilia herself. If
he is satisfied with her, it does not matter much who else may be
dissatisfied."

"Oh, if he is satisfied, that is enough," said Miss Altifiorla as she
took her leave. But she felt sure that the secret had not been told,
and that it ought to have been told, and she felt proud to think
that she had spotted the fault. Cecilia Holt would have done very
well in the world had she confined herself,--as she had solemnly
promised,--to those high but solitary feminine duties to which
Miss Altifiorla had devoted herself. But she had chosen to make
herself the slave of a man who,--as Miss Altifiorla expressed it
to herself,--"would turn upon her and rend her." And she, Miss
Altifiorla, had seen and did see it all. The time might come when the
wounded dove would return to her care. Of course she hoped that the
time would not come;--but it might.

"I'll tell you one thing," said Mrs. Green to her husband as they
walked home from the breakfast. "That girl has not yet said a word to
th