probably be your last visit to me.'

'No, no; it will not be the last. But do not talk about these things.
And it will be so much better that I should be here when he is not
here.'



'I had hoped that when I died you might both be with me together as
husband and wife.'

'Such hopes never come to anything.'

'I still think that he would wish it.'

'That is nonsense, aunt. it is indeed, for neither of us wish it.' A
lie on such a subject from a woman under such circumstances is hardly
to be considered a lie at all. It is spoken with no mean object, and is
the only bulwark which the woman has ready at her need to cover her own
weakness.

'From what he said yesterday,' continued Mrs Winterfield, 'I think it
is your own fault.'

'Pray pray do not talk in that way. It cannot be matter of any fault
that two people do not want to marry each other.'

'Of course I asked him no positive question. It would be indelicate
even in me to have done that. But he spoke as though he thought very
highly of you.'