at the least sign I should have interfered."

"It is useless, Austin. All is over:"

Her voice was cold and measured; her manner strangely formal and hard.
It seemed to me that she was absolutely resolved not to be drawn into
any argument or explanation. As for me, I was shaking with agitation,
and I turned my face aside, so ashamed was I that she should see my
want of control.

"You must know what this means to me!" I cried. "It is the blasting of
all my hopes and the ruin of my life! You surely will not inflict such
a punishment upon me unheard. You will let me know what is the matter.
Consider how impossible it would be for me, under any circumstances, to
treat you so. For God's sake, Agatha, let me know what I have done!"

She walked past me without a word and opened the door.

"It is quite useless, Austin," said she. "You must consider our
engagement at an end." An instant later she was gone, and, before I
could recover myself sufficiently to follow her, I heard the hall-door
close behind her.

I rushed into my room to change my coat, with the idea of hurrying
round to Mrs. Marden's to learn from her what the cause of my
misfortune might be. So shaken was I that I could hardly lace my
boots. Never shall I forget those horrible ten minutes. I had just
pulled on my overcoat when the clock upon the mantel-piece struck ten.

Ten! I associated the idea with Miss Penclosa's note. It was lying
before me on the table, and I tore it open. It was scribbled in pencil
in a peculiarly angular handwriting.

"MY DEAR PROFESSOR GILROY [it said]: Pray excuse the personal nature
of the test which I am giving you. Professor Wilson happened to
mention the relations between you and my subject of this evening, and
it struck me that nothing could be more convincing to you than if I
were to suggest to Miss Marden that she should call upon you at
half-past nine to-morrow morning and suspend your engagement for half
an hour or so. Science is so exacting that it is difficult to give a
satisfying test, but I am convinced that this at least will be an
action which she would be most unlikely to do of her own free will.
Forget any thing that she may have said, as she has really nothing
whatever to do with it, and will certainly not recollect any thing
about it. I write this note to shorten your anxiety, and to beg you to
forgive me for the momentary unhappiness which my suggestion must have
caused you.