suffering would be _not_ to speak," she replied, with
increased agitation. "I must say what I came to say; then I can go and
face whatever is before me. I want to tell you how right you were. You
told me through Mrs. Lessingham how strongly you disapproved of my
marrying at once; you wished me to take no irrevocable step till I knew
myself and him better. You did everything in your power to prevent me
from committing a childish folly. But I paid no regard to you. I ought
to have held your wish sacred; I owed you respect and obedience. But I
chose my own foolish way, and now that I know how right you were, I
feel the need of thanking you. You would have saved me if you could. It
is a simple duty in me to acknowledge this now I know it."

Mallard rose and stood for a minute looking absently at the temples.
Then he turned gravely towards her.

"If it has really lightened your mind to say this, I am content to have
heard it. But let it end there; there is no good in such thoughts and
speeches. They are hysterical, and you don't like to be thought that.
Such a service as you believe I might have rendered you is so very
doubtful, so entirely a matter of suppositions and probabilities and
possibilities, that we can't talk of it seriously. I acted as any
guardian was bound to act, under the circumstances. You, on the other
hand, took the course that young people have taken from time
immemorial. The past is past; it is worse than vain to revive it. Come,
now, let us talk for a few minutes quietly."

Cecily's head was bent. He saw that her bosom heaved, but on her face
there was no foreboding of tears. The strong impulse having had its
way, she seemed to be recovering self command.

"By the bye," he asked, "how did you know where to find me?"

"I found a letter of yours lying open. Did he answer your invitation?"

"Yes; he wrote a few lines saying he would come before long. But I
haven't seen him. What do you intend to do when you leave me?"

"Go home again and wait," she answered, with quiet sadness.

"In solitude? And what assurance have you that he means to come?"

"None whatever. But where else should I go, but home? My place is
there, until I have heard his pleasure."

It was mournfully unlike her, this bitter tone. Her eyes were fixed
upon the picture again. Looking at her, Mallard was moved by something
of the same indignant spirit that was still strong in her heart. Her
pure and fine-wrought beauty, so subtle i