frittered away to gratify a young girl's caprice,--a caprice which in a few
years she would laugh at. And whenever he was not thinking of his play, he
remembered the charm of Mrs. Bentley's company, and the beneficent effect
it had on his work. He had never known a woman he had liked so much, and he
felt--he started at the thought, so like an inspiration did it seem to
him--that the only possible solution of the present situation was his
marriage with her. Once he was married, Emily would soon learn to forget
him. They would take her up to London for the season; and, amid the healthy
excitement of balls and parties, her girlish fancy would evaporate. No
doubt she would meet again the young cavalry officer whose addresses she
had received so coldly. She would be sure to meet him again--be sure to
think him the most charming man in the world; they would marry, and she
would make him the best possible wife. The kindest action they could do
Emily would be to marry. There was nothing else to do, and they must do
something, or else the girl would die. It seemed wonderful to Hubert that
he had not thought of all this before. 'It is the very obvious solution of
the problem,' he said; and his heart beat as he heard Mrs. Bentley's step
in the corridor. It died away in the distance; but a few days after, when
he heard it again, he jumped from his chair, and ran to the door. 'Come,'
he said, 'I want to speak to you.'

'No, no, I beg of you!'

'I must speak to you!' He laid his hand upon her arm, and said, 'I beg of
you. I have something to say--it is of great importance. Come in.'

They looked at each other a moment, and it seemed as if they could see into
each other's souls. Then a look of yielding passed into her eyes, and she
said--