ny difference if I did," said Maria, with a little
indignation. She felt as if she were being probed to her
heart-strings.

"No, of course it does not," Miss Blair agreed directly. "If he and
your sister have fallen in love, as you say, you have done obviously
the only thing to do. We will have the notice in the papers. I don't
know quite how I shall arrange it; but I have a fertile brain."

Maria looked hesitatingly at her. "But it will not be telling the
truth," she said.

"But what did you plan to do, if you told the truth when you came
away?" asked Miss Blair with a little impatience.

"I did not really plan anything," replied Maria helplessly. "I only
thought I would go."

"You are inconsequential," said Miss Blair. "You cannot start upon a
train of sequences in this world unless you go on to the bitter end.
Besides, after all, why do you object to lying? I suppose you were
brought up to tell the truth, and so was I, and I really think I
venerate the truth more than anything else, but sometimes a lie is
the highest truth. See here. You are willing to bear all the
punishment, even fire and brimstone, and so on, if your sister and
this man whom you love, are happy, aren't you?"

"Of course," replied Maria.

"Well, if you tell a lie which can hurt only yourself, and bless
others, and are willing to bear the punishment for it, you are
telling the truth like the angels. Don't you worry, my dear. But you
must not go to Edgham for that money. I have enough for us both."

"I have nearly all my last term's salary, except the sum I paid for
my fare here," Maria said, proudly.

"Well, dear, you shall spend it, and then you shall have some of
mine."

"I don't want any money, except what I earn," Maria said.

"You may read to me, and earn it," Miss Blair said easily. "Don't
fret about such a petty thing. Now, will you please touch that bell,
dear. I must go and arrange about our passage."

"Our passage?" repeated Maria dully.

"Yes; to-day is Thursday. We can catch a Saturday steamer. We can buy
anything which you need ready-made in the way of wearing-apparel, and
get the rest on the other side."

Maria gasped. She was very white, and her eyes were dilated. She
stared at Miss Rosa Blair, who returned her stare with curious
fixedness. Maria seemed to see depths within depths of meaning in her
great dark eyes. A dimness swept over her own vision.

"Touch the bell, please, dear," said Miss Blair.

Maria obeye