r--of that
home, humble it might be and far off, but to which Time rarely fails
to bring the Two, if never weary of the trust to become as One. Talking
thus, Arabella forgot the relationship of pupil and teacher; it was as
woman to woman--girl to girl--friend to friend. Matilda seemed touched
by the confidence--flattered to possess at last another's secret.
Arabella was a little chafed that she did not seem to admire Jasper as
much as Arabella thought the whole world must admire. Matilda excused
herself. "She had scarcely noticed Mr. Hammond. Yes: she had no doubt
he would be considered handsome; but she owned, though it might be bad
taste, that she preferred a pale complexion, with auburn hair;" and then
she sighed and looked away, as if she had, in the course of her secret
life, encountered some fatal pale complexion, with never-to-be-forgotten
auburn hair. Not a word was said by either Matilda or Arabella as to
concealing from Mr. Darrell these meetings with Mr. Hammond. Perhaps
Arabella could not stoop to ask that secrecy; but there was no necessity
to ask; Matilda was always too rejoiced to have something to conceal.

Now, in these interviews, Jasper scarcely ever addressed himself to
Matilda; not twenty spoken words could have passed between them; yet,
in the very third interview, Matilda's sly fingers had closed on a sly
note. And from that day, in each interview, Arabella walking in the
centre, Jasper on one side, Matilda the other--behind Arabella's
back-passed the sly fingers and the sly notes, which Matilda received
and answered. Not more than twelve or fourteen times was even this
interchange effected. Darrell was about to move to Fawley. All such
meetings would be now suspended. Two or three mornings before that
fixed for leaving London, Matilda's room was found vacant. She was gone.
Arabella was the first to discover her flight, the first to learn its
cause. Matilda had left on her writing-table a letter for Miss
Fossett. It was very short, very quietly expressed, and it rested her
justification on a note from Jasper, which she enclosed--a note in which
that gallant hero, ridiculing the idea that he could ever have been in
love with Arabella, declared that he would destroy himself if Matilda
refused to fly. She need not fear such angelic confidence in him. No!
Even

Had he a heart for falsehood framed,
He ne'er could injure her."

Stifling each noisier cry--but panting--gasping--lite