"Hush!" said Ina; "not so loud." Then she looked him in the face a little
while, blushed, hesitated, faltered, and at last laid one white hand upon
her bosom, that was beginning to heave, and said, with patient dignity,
"My old friend--I--am--deserted."


Ashmead looked at her with amazement and incredulity. "Deserted!" said
he, faintly. "You--deserted!!!"

"Yes," said she, "deserted; but perhaps not forever." Her noble eyes
filled to the brim, and two tears stood ready to run over.

"Why, the man must be an idiot!" shouted Ashmead.

"Hush! not so loud. That waiter is listening: let me come to your table."

She came and sat down at his table, and he sat opposite her. They looked
at each other. He waited for her to speak. With all her fortitude, her
voice faltered, under the eye of sympathy. "You are my old friend," she
said. "I'll try and tell you all." But she could not all in a moment, and
the two tears trickled over and ran down her cheeks; Ashmead saw them,
and burst out, "The villain!--the villain!"

"No, no," said she, "do not call him that. I could not bear it. Believe
me, he is no villain." Then she dried her eyes, and said, resolutely, "If
I am to tell you, you must not apply harsh words to him. They would close
my mouth at once, and close my heart."

"I won't say a word," said Ashmead, submissively; "so tell me all."