s Charlecote restored in the freer manner, the
long sigh, the tender grasp of the arm, as soon as they were in the open
air.

'Phoebe,' almost in a whisper, 'I have a letter from him.'

Phoebe pressed her arm, and looked her sympathy.

'Such a nice letter,' added Honor. 'Poor fellow! he has suffered so
much. Should you like to see it?'

Owen had not figured to himself what eyes would peruse his letter; but
Honor was in too much need of sympathy to withhold the sight from the
only person who she could still hope would be touched.

'You see he asks nothing, nothing,' she wistfully pleaded. 'Only pardon!
Not to come home; nor anything.'

'Yes; surely, that is real contrition.'

'Surely, surely it is: yet they are not satisfied--Mr. Saville and Sir
John. They say it is not full confession; but you see he does refer to
the rest. He says he has deeply offended in other ways.'

'The rest?'

'You do not know. I thought your brother had told you. No? Ah! Robert
_is_ his friend. Mr. Saville went and found it out. It was very right
of him, I believe. Quite right I should know; but--'

'Dear Miss Charlecote, it has pained you terribly.'

'It is what young men do; but I did not expect it of him. Expensive
habits, debts, I could have borne, especially with the calls for money
his poor wife must have caused; but I don't know how to believe that he
gave himself out as my heir, and obtained credit on that account--a bond
to be paid on my death!'

Phoebe was too much shocked to answer.

'As soon as Mr. Saville heard of these troubles,' continued Honor, 'as,
indeed, I put all into his hands, he thought it right I should know all.
He went to Oxford, found out all that was against poor Owen, and then
proceeded to London, and saw the lawyer in whose hands Captain Charteris
had left those children's affairs. He was very glad to see Mr. Saville,
for he thought Miss Sandbrook's friends ought to know what she was doing.
So it came out that Lucilla had been to him, insisting on selling out
nearly all her fortune, and paying off with part of it this horrible
bond.'

'She is paying his debts, rather than let you hear of them.'

'And _they_ are very angry with him for permitting it; as if he or
anybody else had any power to stop Lucy! I know as well as possible that
it is she who will not let him confess and make it all open with me. And
yet, after this, what right have I to say I _know_? How little I ever
knew th