I suppose he thought I was going to speak again about my money matters, for I could see the impatient jerk of the shoulders with which he answered: ‘I can anticipate what you are about to say, my dear Hilda; and can assure you that as soon as your dividends——’ ‘No, no, it is not that!’ I interrupted eagerly. ‘I don’t want money, because Mr. Warrington has sent me some to go on with.’ I am afraid this was a false move. I saw that my guardian took it in anything but good part by the way in which he frowned at me. So you have applied to Mr. Warrington on the subject.’ ‘I did not ask him for any money, if that is what you mean. He sent it me spontaneously. But that has nothing to do with my present business. Can I speak to you alone?’ ‘You can say what you wish, although I cannot imagine what else of a private nature you can have to communicate to me.’ ‘You will soon find out. But I cannot tell it to you here, with every door and window open.’ ‘This is very strange,’ he remarked. ‘Where would you have me go?’ ‘Will you come into my bedroom, or may I accompany you in your walk?’ ‘The last will be the least remarkable proceeding,’ he replied, as he rose to find his hat and stick. In a few minutes we were on the highroad together. When it came to the point I found it very difficult to begin; but I had made up my mind that I was right, and was determined to go through with it. ‘Mr. Lovett,’ I said, ‘do you approve of confession?’ ‘Well, that is rather a difficult question to answer. I approve of it for the Church of which it forms a law, but not for its own particular merits.’ ‘But do you hold with the sacredness of its obligations to secrecy?’ ‘Certainly.’ ‘Then will you consider that what I am about to tell you is under the seal of confession, and promise me beforehand to keep my communication private?’ ‘If it relates to yourself, I will.’ ‘I only claim your secrecy on behalf of myself. You have heard that Mr. Charteris and I knew each other many years ago; and perhaps I ought to have told you before now, Mr. Lovett, that in those days he professed to be attached to me.’ ‘I don’t see what business that is of mine, my dear Hilda.’ ‘Yes, it is your business, because he greatly deceived me, and you have daughters whom he might treat in the same manner. For months my mother and I believed that Cave Charteris intended to marry me; but it all came to nothing, and for many years his desertion was the source of my bitterest trouble.’ ‘In that case, I should think the less you say about it the better; and I cannot at all imagine why you should have chosen to make me the confidant of so unpleasant a portion of your history.’