I'd better tell him; and that's why I went. Indeed that was the reason.'
'Mrs. Thomas could have told him that.'
'But I don't like Mrs. Thomas, and I wouldn't for worlds that she should have had anything to do with it. I think Mrs. Thomas has behaved very bad to me; so I do. And you don't half know her;—that you don't.'
'I will ask you one more question, Mary, and before answering it I want to make you believe that my only object in asking it is to ascertain how I may make you happy. When you did meet Mr.—this gentleman———'
'Albert Fitzallen.'
'When you did meet Mr. Fitzallen, did you tell him nothing else except that you were engaged to me? Did you say nothing to him as to your feelings towards himself?'
'I told him it was very wrong of him to write me that letter.'
'And what more did you tell him?'
'Oh, Mr. Graham, I won't see him any more; indeed I won't. I give you my most solemn promise. Indeed I won't. And I will never write a line to him,—or look at him. And if he sends anything I'll send it to you. Indeed I will. There was never anything of the kind before; upon my word there wasn't. I did let him take my hand, but I didn't know how to help it when I was there. And he kissed me—only once. There; I've told it all now, as though you were looking at me. And I aint a bad girl, whatever she may say of me. Indeed I aint.' And then poor Mary Snow burst out into an agony of tears.
Felix began to perceive that he had been too hard upon her. He had wished that the first overtures of a separation should come from her, and in wishing this he had been unreasonable. He walked for a while about the room, and then going up to her he stood close by her and took her hand. 'Mary,' he said, 'I'm sure you're not a bad girl.
'No;' she said, 'no, I aint;' still sobbing convulsively. 'I didn't mean anything wrong, and I couldn't help it.'
'I am sure you did not, and nobody has said you did.'
'Yes, they have. She has said so. She said that I was a bad girl. She told me so, up to my face.'
'She was very wrong if she said so.'
'She did then, and I couldn't bear it.'
'I have not said so, and I don't think so. Indeed in all this matter I believe that I have been more to blame than you.'
'No;—I know I was wrong. I know I shouldn't have gone to see him.'
'I won't even say as much as that, Mary. What you should have done;—only the task would have been too hard for any young girl-
