own account more than hers, for he could not conceive any blame save
on himself for being so regardless of appearances.

"Go as quietly as ever you can," Harriet whispered. "The stairs
creak so. Step very softly."

This was terrible to the poor fellow. To steal down in this guilty
way was as bad as a confession of evil intentions, and he so
entirely innocent of a shadow of evil even in his thought. Yet he
could not but do as she bade him. Even on the stairs she urged him
in a very loud whisper to be yet more cautious. He was out of
himself with mortification; and felt angry with her for bringing him
into such ignominy. In the back parlour once more, he took up his
hat at once.

"You mustn't go yet," whispered Harriet. "I'm sure that woman's
listening on the stairs. You must talk a little. Let's talk so she
can hear us. Suppose she should tell Mrs. Ogle."

"I can't see that it matters," said Julian, with annoyance. "I will
myself see Mrs. Ogle."

"No, no! The idea! I should have to leave at once. Whatever shall I
do if she turns me away, and won't give me a reference or anything!"

Even in a calmer mood, Julian's excessive delicacy would have
presented an affair of this kind in a grave light to him; at present
he was wholly incapable of distinguishing between true and false, or
of gauging these fears at their true value. The mere fact of the
girl making so great a matter out of what should have been so easy