"Everything, from beginning to end. I had no idea of what happened in
London before we went to Paris. And she does so repent of it! She
doesn't know how she could do it. She wishes you had refused her."
"So do I."
"But you saved her--she can never forget that. You mustn't think that
she only pretends to be grateful. She will be grateful to you as long
as she lives. I know she will."
"On condition that I--what?"
Patty gave him a bewildered look.
"What does she ask of me now?"
"She's ashamed to ask anything. She fears you will never speak to her
again."
Hilliard meditated, then glanced at the letter.
"I had better read this now, I think, if you will let me."
"Yes--please do----"
He tore open the envelope, and disclosed two sheets of note-paper,
covered with writing. For several minutes there was silence; Patty now
and then gave a furtive glance at her companion's face as he was
reading. At length he put the letter down again, softly.
"There's something more here than I expected. Can you tell me whether
she heard from Narramore this morning?"
"She has had no letter."
"I see. And what does she suppose passed between Narramore and me
yesterday?"
"She is wondering what you told him."
"She takes it for granted, in this letter, that I have put an end to
everything between them. Well, hadn't I a right to do so?"
"Of course you had," Patty replied, with emphasis. "And she knew it
must come. She never really thought that she could marry Mr. Narramore.
She gave him no promise."
"Only corresponded with him, and made appointments with him, and
allowed him to feel sure that she would be his wife."
"Eve has behaved very strangely. I can't understand her. She ought to
have told you that she had been to see him, and that he wrote to her.
It's always best to be straightforward. See what trouble she has got
herself into!"
Hilliard took up the letter again, and again there was a long silence.
"Have you said good-bye to her?" were his next words.
"She's going to meet me at the station to see me off."
"Did she come from Dudley with you?"
"No."
"It's all very well to make use of you for this disagreeable
business----"
"Oh, I didn't mind it!" broke in Patty, with irrelevant cheerfulness.
"A woman 'who does such things as this should have the courage to go
through with it. She ought to have come herself, and have told me that.
She was aiming at much better things than _I_ could have p
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