all about it then?'

'No;--I don't know. But I think it has been so. I do know that John
Crumb had threatened to do this thing, and I felt sure that sooner or
later he would be as good as his word. If it has been so, who is to
blame him?'

Hetta as she heard the story hardly knew whether her cousin, in his
manner of telling the story, was speaking of that other man, of that
stranger of whom she had never heard, or of himself. He would have
made her his wife and have been good to her. He had a home to offer
her. He was an honest man with whom she would have been safe and
respected and happy! He had looked at her while speaking as though it
were her own case of which he spoke. And then, when he talked of the
old-fashioned way, of being off with the old love before you are on
with the new, had he not alluded to Paul Montague and this story of
the American woman? But, if so, it was not for Hetta to notice it
by words. He must speak more plainly than that before she could be
supposed to know that he alluded to her own condition. 'It is very
shocking,' she said.

'Shocking;--yes. One is shocked at it all. I pity your mother, and I
pity you.'

'It seems to me that nothing ever will be happy for us,' said Hetta.
She was longing to be told something of Mrs Hurtle, but she did not as
yet dare to ask the question.

'I do not know whether to wait for your mother or not,' said he after
a short pause.

'Pray wait for her if you are not very busy.'

'I came up only to see her, but perhaps she would not wish me to be
here when she brings Felix back to the house.'

'Indeed she will. She would like you always to be here when there are
troubles. Oh, Roger, I wish you could tell me.'

'Tell you what?'

'She has written to you;--has she not?'

'Yes; she has written to me.'

'And about me?'

'Yes;--about you, Hetta. And, Hetta, Mr Montague has written to me
also.'

'He told me that he would,' whispered Hetta.

'Did he tell you my answer?'

'No;--he has told me of no answer. I have not seen him since.'

'You do not think that it can have been very kind, do you? I also have
something of the feeling of John Crumb, though I shall not attempt to
show it after the same fashion.'

'Did you not say the girl had promised to love that man?'

'I did not say so;--but she had promised. Yes, Hetta; there is a
difference. The girl then was fickle and went back from her word. You
never have done that. I am not justified in thinki