ing into Cumberland.'

Rhoda's look was fixed on the speaker's countenance.

'You knew he was going to Cumberland?' she asked in a slow, careful
voice.

'He told me so. I met him, quite by chance, the day before.'

'Where did you meet him?'

'Near the flats,' Monica answered, colouring. 'He had just come out--I
saw him come out. I had an appointment there that afternoon, and I
walked a short way with him, so that he shouldn't--'

Her voice failed. She saw that Rhoda had begun to mistrust her, to
think that she was elaborating falsehoods. The burdensome silence was
broken by Miss Nunn's saying repellently,--

'I haven't asked for your confidence, remember.'

'No--and if you try to imagine what it means for me to be speaking like
this--I am not shameless. I have suffered a great deal before I could
bring myself to come here and tell you. If you were more human--if you
tried to believe--'

The agitation which found utterance in these words had its effect upon
Rhoda. In spite of herself she was touched by the note of womanly
distress.

'Why have you come? Why do you tell me this?'

'Because it isn't only that I have been falsely accused. I felt I must
tell you that Mr. Barfoot had never-that there was nothing between us.
What has he said? How did he meet the charge Mr. Widdowson made against
him?'

'Simply by denying it.'

'Hasn't he wished to appeal to _me_?'

'I don't know. I haven't heard of his expressing such a wish. I can't
see that you are called upon to take any trouble about Mr. Barfoot. He
ought to be able to protect his own reputation.'

'Has he done so?' Monica asked eagerly. 'Did you believe him when he
denied--'

'But what does it matter whether I believed him or not?'

'He would think it mattered a great deal.'

'Mr. Barfoot would think so? Why?'

'He told me how much he wished to have your good opinion That is what
we used to talk about. I don't know why he took me into his confidence.
It happened first of all when we were going by train--the same train,
by chance--after we had both been calling here. He asked me many
questions about you, and at last said--that he loved you--or something
that meant the same.'

Rhoda's eyes had fallen.

'After that pursued Monica, we several times spoke of you. We did so
when we happened to meet near his rooms--as I have told you. He told me
he was going to Cumberland with the hope of seeing you; and I
understood him to mean he wished to ask you--