e, and then
Mrs. Cornbury again repeated her question, "Why do you not go to
her?"

"Mrs. Cornbury," he said, "you must not be angry with me if I say
that that is a matter which at the present moment I am not willing to
discuss."

"Nor must you be angry with me if, as Rachel's friend, I say
something further about it. As you do not wish to answer me, I will
ask no other question; but at any rate you will be willing to listen
to me. Rachel has never spoken to me on this subject--not a word; but
I know from others who see her daily that she is very unhappy."

"I am grieved that it should be so."

"Yes, I knew you would be grieved. But how could it be otherwise? A
girl, you know, Mr. Rowan, has not other things to occupy her mind as
a man has. I think of Rachel Ray that she would have been as happy
there at Bragg's End as the day is long, if no offer of love had
come in her way. She was not a girl whose head had been filled with
romance, and who looked for such things. But for that very reason is
she less able to bear the loss of it when the offer has come in her
way. I think, perhaps, you hardly know the depth of her character and
the strength of her love."

"I think I know that she is constant."

"Then why do you try her so hardly?"

Mrs. Cornbury had promised that she would ask no more questions; but
the asking of questions was her easiest mode of saying that which she
had to say. And Rowan, though he had declared that he would answer no
question, could hardly avoid the necessity of doing so.

"It may be that the trial is the other way."

"I know;--I understand. They made her write a letter to you. It
was my father's doing. I will tell you the whole truth. It was my
father's doing, and therefore it is that I think myself bound to
speak to you. Her mother came to him for advice, and he had heard
evil things spoken of you in Baslehurst. You will see that I am very
frank with you. And I will take some credit to myself too. I believed
such tidings to be altogether false, and I made inquiry which proved
that I was right. But my father had given the advice which he thought
best. I do not know what Rachel wrote to you, but a girl's letter
under such circumstances can hardly do more than express the will of
those who guide her. It was sad enough for her to be forced to write
such a letter, but it will be sadder still if you cannot be brought
to forgive it."

Then she paused, standing under the gray rock and lookin