mind. I did--most sincerely;
and I think he believes that I did. How good and dear he always was to
me!--how much I have learnt from him! And yet I am afraid it was all very
blind, and ill-considered--perhaps very selfish--on my part. I did not
understand what harm I _might_ do; though I hope with all my heart--and
believe--that I have not done anything irreparable. It is very hard
for me to regret it; because all my life I shall be the richer and the
wiser for having known so good a man; one so true, so unselfish, so
high-minded. Women so rarely come to know men, except in marriage, or
through books; and your son's character has sweetened and ennobled whole
sides of life for me--forever.

"But if--in return--I have given him pain--and you, who love him! I was
always afraid of you--but I would have done anything in the world to
serve you. Will you let me have a little word--just to tell me that you
forgive, and understand. I ask it with a very sore heart--full, full of
gratitude to him and to you, for all your goodness."

* * * * *

Victoria was oddly affected by this letter. It both touched and angered
her. She was touched by what it said, deeply touched; and angered by what
it omitted. And yet how could the writer have said anything more!--or
anything else! Victoria admitted that her thoughts had run far beyond
what she knew--in any true sense--or had any right to conjecture.
Nevertheless the fact in her belief remained a fact, that but for
Faversham and some disastrous influence he had gained over her almost at
once, Harry would have had his chance with Lydia Penfold. As it was, she
had been allowing Harry to offer her his most intimate thoughts and
feelings, while she was actually falling in love with his inferior. This
was what enraged Victoria. Whatever Cyril Boden might say, it seemed to
her maternal jealousy something equivalent to the betrayal of a sacred
confidence.

Yet clearly she could not say so to Lydia Penfold--nor could Lydia
confess it! She wrote as follows:

"MY DEAR MISS PENFOLD:

"It was very kind of you to write to me, I am sure you meant no harm,
and I do not pretend to judge another person's conduct by what I might
myself have thought wisest or best. But I think we all have to learn
that the deepest feelings in life are very sensitive, and very
incalculable things; and that the old traditions and conventions
respecting them have probably much more to say for