f
things, however, might not long survive our proposing to be anything
more. But we never did propose to be anything more. What made you think
it?'

'Did papa tell you that he went up to Seaforth this summer?'

'He said nothing about it.'

'He did go, however. It was a very great thing for papa to do, too; for
he goes nowhere, and it is very hard for him to move; but he went. It
was in August. We had heard not a word from Seaforth for such a long,
long time,--not for two or three years, I think,--and not a word from
you; and papa had a mind to see what was the meaning of it all, and
whether anybody was left in Seaforth or not. I thought everybody had
forgotten us, and papa said he would go and see.'

'Yes,' said Pitt, as Esther paused.

'And, of course, you know, he found nobody. All our friends were gone,
at least. And people told papa you had been home the year before, and
had been in Seaforth a long while; and the lady was there too whom you
were going to marry; and that this year they had all gone over to see
you, that lady and all; and the wedding would probably be before Mr.
and Mrs. Dallas came home. So papa came back and told me.'

'And you believed it! Of course.'

'How could I help believing it?' said Esther, smiling; but her eyes
avoided Pitt now, and her colour went and came. 'It was a very straight
story.'

'Yet not a bit of truth in it. Oh yes, they came over to see me; but I
have never thought of marrying Miss Frere, nor any other lady; nor ever
shall, unless--you have forgotten me, Esther?'

Esther sat so motionless that Pitt might have thought she had not heard
him, but for the swift flashing colour which went and came. She had
heard him well enough, and she knew what the words were meant to
signify, for the tone of them was unmistakeable; but answer, in any
way, Esther could not. She was a very fair image of maidenly modesty
and womanly dignity, rather unmistakeable, too, in its way; but she
spoke not, nor raised an eyelid.

'Have you forgotten me, Esther?' he repeated gently.

She did not answer then. She was moveless for another instant; and
then, rising, with a swift motion she passed out of the room. But it
was not the manner of dismissal or leave-taking, and Pitt waited for
what was to come next. And in another moment or two she was there
again, all covered with blushes, and her eyes cast down, down upon an
old book which she held in her hand and presently held open. She was
standin