body in the world could break me off as long as I felt that he
really loved me;--not if they were to cut me in pieces. But you
didn't care, not a bit. You did it just because your father told
you. And so did I. But I know better than that now. You never cared
for me a bit more than for the old woman at the crossing. You
thought I didn't understand;--but I did. And now you've come again
because your father has told you again. And you'd better go away.'

'There's a great deal of truth in what you say.'

'It's all true, my lord. Every word of it.'

'I wish you wouldn't call me my lord.'

'I suppose you are a lord, and therefore I shall call you so. I never
called you anything else when they pretended that we were to be
married, and you never asked me. I never even knew what your name was
till I looked it out in the book after I had consented.'

'There is truth in what you say;--but it isn't true now. How was I to
love you when I had seen so little of you? I do love you now.'

'Then you needn't;--for it isn't any good.'

'I do love you now, and I think you'd find that I should be truer to
you than that fellow who wouldn't take the trouble to go down to
Liverpool with you.'

'You don't know why he didn't go.'

'Well;--perhaps I do. But I did not come here to say anything about
that.'

'Why didn't he go, Lord Nidderdale?' She asked the question with an
altered tone and an altered face. 'If you really know, you might as
well tell me.'

'No, Marie;--that's just what I ought not to do. But he ought to tell
you. Do you really in your heart believe that he means to come back to
you?'

'I don't know,' she said, sobbing. 'I do love him;--I do indeed. I
know that you are good-natured. You are more good-natured than he is.
But he did like me. You never did;--no; not a bit. It isn't true. I
ain't a fool. I know. No;--go away. I won't let you now. I don't care
what he is; I'll be true to him. Go away, Lord Nidderdale. You
oughtn't to go on like that because papa and mamma let you come here.
I didn't let you come. I don't want you to come. No;--I won't say any
kind word to you. I love Sir Felix Carbury better--than any person--in
all the world. There! I don't know whether you call that kind, but
it's true.'

'Say good-bye to me, Marie.'

'Oh, I don't mind saying good-bye. Good-bye, my lord; and don't come
any more.'

'Yes, I shall. Good-bye, Marie. You'll find the difference between me
and him yet.' So he took his le