re, too, was sparer,
but it looked more powerful than ever; and still more apparent was
the added look of strength in the familiar and yet subtly altered
face.

There was no pause long enough to be embarrassing before he spoke.

"I hope you will excuse me," he said (and, oh, the voice was altered
too, unless she had forgotten that rich, vibrating tone in it!), "for
coming upon you so suddenly. I know I should have given warning, but
I had what I think a sufficient reason for not doing so. I am hoping
earnestly that you will agree with me when you have heard it."

"Pray sit down," said Bettina, speaking mechanically, and from the
mere instinct of observance of ordinary forms. She had no sooner
spoken than she remembered that it was his own house, of which she
was doing the honors to him. If he remembered it also, he gave no
sign, for he took the chair she indicated, with the conventional
"Thank you" of an ordinary visitor.

Bettina also had sunk into her chair, and sat quite still, with her
white hands clasped together on the dense black of her dress. She
could not speak, yet she dreaded lest, in the silence, he might hear
the beating of her heart. Its soft thuds were plainly audible to her,
and all the blood from her cheeks seemed to have gone there.

"In any event, I should have been obliged to come to England soon,"
said her companion, "but I should have put it off longer had I not
felt it important to come on your account."

Bettina's eyes expressed a questioning surprise.

"On my account?" she said, vaguely.

"Certainly," was the prompt, decided answer. "The only responsibility
which comes near to me in my new and strange position is that of
protecting the honor and credit of the name I have assumed. These,
you will excuse me for saying, have been seriously, I may even say
shamefully, disregarded by the terms of the late Lord Hurdly's will."

Bettina's eyes had still that vague and puzzled look. She had not the
least comprehension of what he meant. Could he be resenting the fact
that, so far as it was practicable for him to do so, his cousin had
disinherited him? But no, that was impossible. As she remained silent
and expectant, he went on:

"Since he chose to disregard the duty and dignity of his position, it
is for me, who must now bear his name, to repair that wrong so far as
it is in my power to do so. It is for that explicit purpose that I am
now come to speak to you."

Still Bettina looked perple