that I was going to tell you does not concern you, and I
have been spared a humiliation for the present. When you know all, you
can cry out against me with the rest. Remember," she added distinctly
with proud bitterness, "I give you full permission."

She turned away and moved across the room; she stopped before the dying
fire, standing above it, and looking down into it. I saw her dark figure
between me and the fading glare, her head lowered on her breast, her
arms hanging dejectedly by her side. She mused there a few minutes, and
then went noiselessly out of the room.

CHAPTER X.

Early summer was already upon the land, flowers were blooming, and the
reign of sunshine had begun. The cuckoo haunted the Hall gardens,
rabbits basked in the glades, and the woods were alive with singing
birds.

A little thing happened which surprised me. A troop of us were riding
one day along the moor, and by the outskirts of the road, I, being
foremost, espied two figures at a distance among the trees, and
recognizing the girls from the farm, I pressed on and came on them
unawares, where they were down on their knees, gathering mosses out of
the grass. Mopsie was on my neck in a moment, but Jane was a little shy.
I had to coax her to be frank.

She thought I must be changed, she said, I stayed away so long. If I
cared for them any more, I would have come to see them. Mother was not
very well, and John, when at home, was dull. He fretted about something.
Did I not know what it was about?

"Whether I come or stay, you must believe in me, Jane," said I; "I am
not one of those that change. I will go back with you now and see your
mother. Here are the rest of our party coming; we will meet them and
tell them what I am going to do."

"That is Miss Leonard," I added, seeing Rachel riding foremost. "Are you
not curious to see her?" Jane said "Yes," and walked on beside me,
holding my whip.

The sun was in Rachel's face till she passed into the shade right before
us. She raised her eyes then and looked at us, started violently, gave
her reins a sudden wild pluck; the horse reared, plunged, and flung her.
I screamed and sprang to the ground, but Jane stood immovable, looking
at Rachel where she lay, staring at her with a face which had changed
from glowing red to white. I pushed her aside to reach Rachel. She
turned quickly round, and, without a word, began walking rapidly towards
home. She passed out of sight without once looki