"No," said Webster, quietly; "this young lady is a friend of mine; and a man pushed against her, and she has turned rather faint. You had best take my arm," he added, addressing May, and without any permission he drew her arm through his, and led her quietly on. For a few moments May did not speak, nor did he. Then, with his voice full of feeling, he said: "You have heard some bad news--I fear I know what it is." May's whole form quivered. "Oh! go away and leave me alone, Mr. Webster," she once more prayed. "Don't tell anyone you've seen me--I only wish to be alone." "You are not fit to be alone," answered Webster; "you have received a great mental shock, a shock that I have feared for days must come to you--you have learnt the truth, somehow, about Mr. Temple and Miss Kathleen Weir." May gave a sudden cry. "How do you know?" she asked, in a broken voice. "What do you know?" "Miss Weir told me--of her early marriage to Mr. Temple." "And you knew this and never told me!" cried May. "You let me live on in my--fool's happiness--you let me--" But here her voice broke; she covered her face with her hand; a moan broke from, her parched lips. "I could not bear to disturb your happiness," said Webster, gently. "I was distressed above measure when this strange knowledge came to me. I did not know how to act, and last night when I was at Pembridge Terrace--" "I will never go there again!" broke in May, passionately. "I will never see anyone again that I have known. You must forget this meeting, Mr. Webster; you must never tell anyone that you have seen me. Will you promise me this?" "Only on one condition--that you will try to bear this bitter blow with fortitude--otherwise it is my duty--" "How can I bear it?" moaned the unhappy girl. "He--was everything to me--I believed he loved me--and now, and now--" "There is no blame to be attached to you. It is a most painful and trying position, and I do not wonder at you shrinking back from it, yet I am sure that both my aunts--" "Mr. Webster," interrupted May, "do not speak of this. I will never see your aunts again--never! My father is going there to-morrow--do you think I could face him?" "Pardon my asking you, but how do you know all this?" "He--he came to-day," answered May in broken accents; "he took me out--and told me. He--said our secret marriage was known--for we were married--" "I know you were; Mr. Temple has rendered himself liable by his conduct--" "To what?" asked May, quickly, as Webster paused. "To an action for bigamy--" "No!" said May, sharply and quickly, and for the first time she raised her bowed head. "I will do nothing against him; I will say nothing against him--I will disappear--and you must keep my secret." "I will do anything for you. Will you trust me?" answered Webster, earnestly. "I know at the present time you are overwhelmed with the suddenness of the blow, and no one can wonder at it. But how did you come to be out here alone?"