fessing her
indifference for him in regard to whom she had so often declared that
she was anxious that all the world should know that they were engaged
to marry each other? It would have been impossible for her not to see
him; and yet she felt that she had been treacherous to her brother,
to whom she owed so much!

One thing seemed to her to be absolutely necessary. She must write at
once and tell him what had occurred. Thinking of this she sat down
and wrote so that she might despatch her letter by that post;--and
what she wrote is here given.

MY DEAR JOHN--

I shall be so anxious to get news from Trafford, and to
hear how you found papa. I cannot but think that were he
very ill somebody would have let us know the truth. Though
Mr. Greenwood is cross-grained and impertinent, he would
hardly have kept us in the dark.

Now I have a piece of news to tell you which I hope will
not make you very angry. It was not my doing, and I do
not know how I could have helped it. Your friend, George
Roden, called to-day and asked to see me. Of course
I could have refused. He was in the hall when Richard
announced him, and I suppose I could have sent out word to
say that I was not at home. But I think you will feel that
that was in truth impossible. How is one to tell a lie to
a man when one feels towards him as I do about George? Or
how could I even let the servants think that I would treat
him so badly? Of course every one knows about it. I want
every one to know about it, so that it may be understood
that I am not in the least ashamed of what I mean to do.

And when you hear why he came I do not think that you can
be angry even with him. He has been called upon, for some
reason, to go at once with his mother to Italy. They start
for Milan to-morrow, and he does not at all know when he
may return. He had to get leave at the Post Office, but
that Sir Boreas whom he talks about seems to have been
very good-natured about giving it. He asked him whether he
would not take Mr. Crocker with him to Italy; but that of
course was a joke. I suppose they do not like Mr. Crocker
at the Post Office any better than you do. Why Mrs. Roden
should have to go he does not understand. All he knows is
that there is some Italian secret which he will hear all
about before he comes home.

Now I really do think that you cannot be surprised that he