Again his meaning was obscure, and when he spoke of suing for
her hand from her father, he did not think of adding that he
would have sued it for his son.

"I have no father," she replied. "This very day have I
disowned him." And observing the inquiry with which his eyes
were of a sudden charged: "Would you have me own a thief, a
murderer, my father?" she demanded, with a fierceness of
defiant shame.

"You know, then?" he ejaculated.

"Yes," she answered sorrowfully, "I know all there is to be
known. I learnt it all this morning. All day have I pondered
it in my shame to end in the resolve to leave Sheringham. I
had intended going to London to my mother's sister. You are
very opportunely come." She smiled up at him through the tears
that were glistening in her eyes. "You come even as I was
despairing - nay, when already I had despaired."

Sir Crispin was no longer puzzled by the readiness of her
acquiescence. Here was the explanation of it. Forced by the
honesty of her pure soul to abandon the house of a father she
knew at last for what he was, the refuge Crispin now offered
her was very welcome. She had determined before he came to
quit Castle Marleigh, and timely indeed was his offer of the
means of escape from a life that was grown impossible. A great
pity filled his heart. She was selling herself, he thought;
accepting the proposal which, on his son's behalf, he made, and
from which at any other season, he feared, she would have