‘I am not angry with you, Nora, only utterly disgusted with Jack for turning out such a low blackguard, and with myself for being so blind as to believe him to be an honourable man.’ ‘But you will be angry with me for this. Two nights ago he told me that if I went over to his room at the farm I should receive my letters--and I _went_.’ ‘You visited Portland at his sleeping apartments? Oh, Nora, I thought you had too much pride in your position as my wife--too much respect for yourself--to do such a thing!’ ‘I would not have gone for anything but those letters,’ she cried. ‘Oh, Ilfracombe, believe me and forgive me! I never was a liar. He said they were in his despatch-box, and I was fool enough to believe him, and fell into the trap. And when I got there, he declared he had made a mistake, and must have left them in town--all lies, all lies!’ ‘Then how did you get them at last?’ ‘He wrote me a note this morning--here it is,’ said Nora, as she produced it from her blotting-case--‘to say he had telegraphed for the packet, and it had arrived from town, and if I would meet him in the meadow this afternoon I should receive them. That was the secret of my taking a walk with him, you see, Ilfracombe. _I_ take a walk voluntarily with the brute! I would rather be hanged, any day!’ cried Nora impetuously. ‘But he never came, you say.’ ‘No; but someone else did. Can you guess who it was? That Miss Llewellyn from the farm. She is really your girl; she is no more drowned than I am, and, oh, she is so sweet and nice! However did you come to give her up for me?’ ‘Don’t talk nonsense, Nora!’ said the earl. ‘I knew some days back that Nell is still alive, but thought it just as well not to mention the subject to you. But did she bring you your letters?’ ‘Yes, she did, the dear, good girl. She was at her bedroom window, which overlooks Portland’s, when I went there, and heard my entreaties to him to return my letters, and his brutal, sarcastic replies; so as soon as I was gone she confronted him, and _made_ him give them up to her--how, she did not tell me, only he did--and she brought them to me. Oh, I _was_ glad! I kissed her a dozen times for her kindness.’ ‘But _why_ did she do it?’ demanded the earl. ‘I cannot understand her interest in the matter, nor how she induced Portland to do what you could not. It was like Nell; she always was resolute and plucky; but what was the motive?’ ‘Her love for you, Ilfracombe,’ replied his wife gravely, ‘and her desire to keep your name untarnished. Oh! you have never known what was in her noble nature, that is very clear. She is twice the woman I am, or ever shall be. She ought to have been your wife, and she is fit for it.’