you both agree upon will satisfy
me. So come by all means if you wish. I can have nothing to do with it.
You had better write and ask her if she will see you, I should think.'

Barfoot rose from his seat, and Mary was glad to be released so quickly
from a disagreeable situation. For her own part she had no need to put
indiscreet questions; Everard's manner acquainted her quite
sufficiently with what was going on in his thoughts. However, he had
still something to say.

'You think I have behaved rather badly--let us say, harshly?'

'I am not so foolish as to form any judgment in such a case, cousin
Everard.'

'Speaking as a woman, should you say that Rhoda had reason on her
side--in the first instance?'

'I think,' Mary replied, with reluctance, but deliberately, 'that she
was not unreasonable in wishing to postpone her marriage until she knew
what was to be the result of Mrs. Widdowson's indiscreet behaviour.'

'Well, perhaps she was not,' Everard admitted thoughtfully.

'And what _has_ been the result?'

'I only know that Mrs. Widdowson has left London and gone to live at a
house her husband has taken somewhere in the country.'

'I'm relieved to hear that. By-the-bye, the little lady's "indiscreet
behaviour" is as much a mystery to me as ever.'

'And to me,' Mary replied with an air of indifference.

'Well, then, let us take it for granted that I was rather harsh with
Rhoda. But suppose she still meets me with the remark that things are
just as they were--that nothing has been explained?'

'I can't discuss your relations with Miss Nunn.'

'However, you defend her original action. Be so good as to admit that I
can't go to Mrs. Widdowson and request her to publish a statement that
I have never--'

'I shall admit nothing,' interrupted Miss Barfoot rather tartily. 'I
have advised you to see Miss Nunn--if she is willing. And there's
nothing more to be said.'

'Good. I will write to her.'

* * *

He did so, in the fewest possible words, and received an answer of
equal brevity. In accordance with permission granted, on the Monday
evening he found himself once more in his cousin's drawing-room,
sitting alone, waiting Miss Nunn's appearance. He wondered how she
would present herself, in what costume. Her garb proved to be a plain
dress of blue serge, certainly not calculated for effect; but his eye
at once distinguished the fact that she had arranged her hair as she
wore it when he first knew her, a fashio