'Not now, Mary.'

'How do you mean not now?'

'If you had a mother you would talk to her about it.'

'Mamma knew.'

'If she were still living she would tell your father.'

'But she didn't tell him, though she did know. She didn't mean to
tell him quite yet. She wanted to see Mr Tregear here in England
first. Of course I shall do nothing till papa does know.'

'You will not see him?'

'How can I see him here? He will not come here, if you mean
that.'

'You do not correspond with him?' Here for the first time the
girl blushed. 'Oh, Mary! if you are writing to him your father
ought to know it.'

'I have not written to him; but when he heard how ill poor mamma
was, then he wrote to me--twice. You may see his letters. It is all
about her. No one worshiped mamma as he did.'

Gradually the whole story was told. These two young persons
considered themselves to be engaged, but had agreed that their