g her, and, in a maze
of perplexity, she replied to his inquiries: "We keep but one servant,
Esther, and she, I know, is trusty. Besides, who could have refused
him for me? Grandfather would not, I know, because--because----"

She hesitated a little and her cheeks blushed scarlet, as she added:
"I sometimes thought he wished it to be."

If Thornton had previously a doubt as to the other man who stood
between himself and Anna, that doubt was now removed, and laying aside
all thoughts of self, he exclaimed: "I tell you there is a great wrong
somewhere. Arthur never told an untruth; he thought that you refused
him; he thinks so still, and I shall never rest till I have solved the
mystery. I will write to him to-day."

For an instant there swept over Anna a feeling of unutterable joy as
she thought of what the end might be; then, as she remembered Lucy,
her heart seemed to stop its beating, and, with a moan, she stretched
her hand toward Thornton, who had risen as if to leave her.

"No, no; you must not interfere," she said. "It is too late, too late.
Don't you remember Lucy? Don't you know she is to be his wife? Lucy
must not be sacrificed for me. I can bear it the best."

She knew she had betrayed her secret and she tried to take it back,
but Thornton interrupted her with, "Never mind now, Anna; I guessed it
all before, and it hurts my pride less to know that it is Arthur whom
you prefer to me; I do not blame you for it."

He smoothed her hair pityingly, while he stood over her for a moment,
wondering what his duty was. Anna had told him plainly what it was. He
must leave Arthur and Lucy alone. She insisted upon having it so, and
he promised her at least that he would not interfere; then, taking her
hand, he pressed it a moment between his own and went out from her
presence. In the hall below he met with Mrs. Meredith, who he knew was
waiting anxiously to hear the result of that long interview.

"Your niece will never be my wife, and I am satisfied to have it so,"
he said; then, as he saw the lowering of her brow, he continued: "I
have long suspected that she loved another, and my suspicions are
confirmed, though there's something I cannot understand," and fixing
his eyes searchingly upon Mrs. Meredith, he told her what Arthur had
written and of Anna's denial of the same. "Somebody played her false,"
he said, rather enjoying the look of terror and shame which crept into
the haughty woman's eyes, as she tried to app