About a month passed away, during which time Edith, in spite of her
troubles, grew stronger every day. Youth and a good, constitution were
on her side, and enabled her to rally rapidly from the prostration to
which she had been subjected.

At length one morning she learned that Leon had arrived at the Hall.
This news gave her great satisfaction, for she had been waiting long,
and felt anxious to see him face to face, to tell him her own mind, and
gather from him, if possible, what his intentions were. An interview
with him under such peculiar circumstances might have been painful had
she been less courageous or less self-possessed; but to one with such
lofty pride as hers, and filled as she was with such scorn of Leon, and
convinced as she was that he was at heart an arrant coward, such an
interview had nothing in it to deter her. Suspense was worse. She
wished to meet that man.

She sent word to him that she wished to see him, after which she went
down to the drawing-room and waited. Leon certainly showed no haste, for
it was as much as an hour before he made his appearance. On entering he
assumed that languid air which he had adopted on some of his former
visits. He looked carelessly at her, and then threw himself into a
chair.

"Really, Mrs. Dudleigh," said he, "this is an unexpected pleasure. 'Pon
my life, I had no idea that you would volunteer to do me so much honor!"

"I am not Mrs. Dudleigh," said Edith, "as you very well know. I am Miss
Dalton, and if you expect me to have any thing to say to you, you must
call me by my proper name. You will suffer dearly enough yet for your
crimes, and have no need to add to them."