he course of the
feelings that ran through Minola's breast as she listened to the words
of this kind which he continued to pour out. But out of all that swept
through her--out of shame, surprise, anger, grief, the one thought came
uppermost, and survived, and guided her--the thought that she had only
to leave Heron's appeal unanswered, and her secret was safe for ever.

She made up her mind, and was self-contained and composed to all
appearance again.

"Let us not say any more about this, Mr. Heron; I am sure you mean it
as a friend; and I never could allow myself to feel offended by
anything said in friendship. I am sorry you have such an opinion of Mr.
Blanchet; I have a much better opinion of him; I like him better than I
like most men; but you know we have just agreed that I ought to be
called 'Miss Misanthrope,' and I assure you I mean to do my very best
to deserve the name. No--please don't say any more--I had rather not
hear it indeed; and if you know anything of women, Mr. Heron, you must
know that we never take advice on these matters. No; trust to my
earning my name of Miss Misanthrope; but don't tell me of the demerits
of this or that particular man. I had rather hate men in the general
than in all the particular cases--and how long we must have talked
about this nonsense, for here is the gate of the park; and Mary
Blanchet will be thinking that I am lost!"

They almost always parted at this park gate. This time he felt that he
must not attempt to go any further with her. She smiled and nodded to
him with a manner of constrained friendliness, and went her way, and
Heron's heart was deeply moved, for he feared that he had lost his
friend.

CHAPTER XIX.

MR. ST. PAUL'S MYSTERY.

Two events occurring almost together affected a good deal some of the
people of this story. The first was the death of Mrs. Saulsbury.

Miss Grey was at once invited by the lawyers who had the charge of her
father's affairs to visit Keeton, in order to become fully acquainted
with the new disposition of things in which she had so much interest.
Thereupon Mr. Money announced that, as Miss Grey had no very close
friend to look after her interests, he was resolved to put himself in
the place of a parent or some near relation, and go with her and see
that all her interests were properly cared for. Minola was unwilling to
put him to so much trouble and loss of time, well knowing how absorbed
in business he was; but he set all he