night's events had apparently shaken her from that
indifference which she seemed to think the best armour of a helpless,
proud governess against the world. She would scarcely listen to a
word. She was in extreme agitation; half-a-dozen times she insisted on
leaving, and then sat down again.

I had not given her credit for so much wholesome irresolution--so much
genuine feeling. Her manner almost convinced me of a fact which every
one else seemed to hold as certain, but which I myself should have
liked to see proved; namely, that Guy, in asking her love, would
have--what in every right and happy marriage a man ought to have--the
knowledge that the love was his before he asked for it.

Seeing this, my heart warmed to the girl. I respected her brave
departure--I rejoiced that it was needless. Willingly I would have
quieted her distress with some hopeful, ambiguous word, but that would
have been trenching, as no one ever ought to trench, on the lover's
sole right. So I held my tongue, watching with an amused pleasure the
colour hovering to and fro over that usually impassive face. At last,
at the opening of the study-door--we stood in the hall still--those
blushes rose up to her forehead in one involuntary tide.

But it was only Edwin, who had lately taken to a habit of getting up
very early,--to study mathematics. He looked surprised at seeing me
with Miss Silver.

"What is that box? She is not going?"

"No; I have been entreating her not. Add your persuasions, Edwin."

For Edwin, with all his quietness, was a lad of much wisdom, great
influence, and no little penetration. I felt inclined to believe that
though as yet he had not been let into the secret of last night, he
guessed it pretty well already.

He might have done, by the peculiar manner in which he went up to the
governess and took her hand.

"Pray stay; I beg of you."

She made no more ado, but stayed.

I left her with Edwin, and took my usual morning walk, up and down the
garden, till breakfast-time.

A strange and painful breakfast it was, even though the most important
element in its painfulness, Guy, was happily absent. The rest of us
kept up a fragmentary, awkward conversation, every one round the table
looking as indeed one might have expected they would look--with one
exception.

Miss Silver, who, from her behaviour last night, and her demeanour to
me this morning, I had supposed would now have gathered up all her
haughtiness to