uld be unable to vindicate myself."

"Have you not been engaged to marry Miss Mildmay?"

"Never."

"Then why did you allow yourself to become so--so much to her?"

"Because I liked her. Because we were thrown together. Because the
chances of things would have it so. Don't you know that that kind of
thing is occurring every day? Of course, if a man were made up of
wisdom and prudence and virtue and self-denial, this kind of thing
wouldn't occur. But I don't think the world would be pleasanter if men
were like that. Adelaide Houghton is Miss Mildmay's most intimate
friend, and Adelaide has always known that I couldn't marry." As soon
as Mrs. Houghton's name was mentioned a dark frown came across Lady
George's brow. Captain De Baron saw it, but did not as yet know
anything of its true cause.

"Of course I am not going to judge between you," said Lady George, very
gravely.

"But I want you to judge me. I want you of all the world to feel that I
have not been a liar and a blackguard."

"Captain De Baron! how can you use such language?"

"Because I feel this very acutely. I do believe that Miss Mildmay has
accused me to you. I do not wish to say a word against her. I would do
anything in the world to protect her from the ill words of others. But
I cannot bear that your mind should be poisoned against me. Will you
believe me when I tell you that I have never said a word to Miss
Mildmay which could possibly be taken as an offer of marriage?"

"I had rather give no opinion."

"Will you ask Adelaide?"

"No; certainly not." This she said with so much vehemence that he was
thoroughly startled. "Mrs. Houghton is not among the number of my
acquaintances."

"Why not? What is the matter?"

"I can give no explanation, and I had rather that no questions should
be asked. But so it is."

"Has she offended Lord George?"

"Oh dear no; that is to say I cannot tell you anything more about it.
You will never see me in Berkeley Square again. And now, pray say no
more about it."

"Poor Adelaide. Well; it does seem terrible that there should be such
misunderstandings. She knows nothing about it. I was with her this
morning, and she was speaking of you with the greatest affection." Mary
struggled hard to appear indifferent to all this, but struggled in
vain. She could not restrain herself from displaying her feeling. "May
I not ask any further questions?"

"No, Captain De Baron."

"Nor hope that I may be a peacemaker betwee