She declared that she never could summon courage to be married until she knew that there was no fear of her former lover way-laying her on her way to church, as he had sworn to do, and perhaps injuring or frightening her into a betrayal of the secret between them. Mrs Courtney became so anxious at last that her daughter’s mind should be set at rest, that she asked her husband to join them on the hills for a few days, thinking it would be safer to confer with him on the subject by word of mouth, than through a letter. Mr Courtney came up as soon as his business would permit him, and the first moment his wife had him to herself, she broached the distasteful subject. ‘What have you done about De Courcelles, Mr Courtney? Have you given him warning to leave us?’ ‘I have, my dear, for I feel very dissatisfied concerning him. I sent for him as soon as you had left home, as I told you I should, and informed him that reports had reached me concerning himself and Maraquita that I could not pass over without comment.’ ‘Oh, Mr Courtney! I _begged_ you not to use our dear girl’s name.’ ‘Well, I couldn’t tell him a lie, Nita, and I really could invent no better excuse for sending him away. So I thought honesty would be, as usual, the best policy.’ ‘But what did he say to it?’ demanded Mrs Courtney breathlessly. ‘Did he deny the fact, or--or--tell any falsehoods about it?’ ‘Not that I am aware of. He neither admitted nor denied the truth of my statement, but I could see from his manner that it had hit home. So I told him he could stay on the plantation on one condition only, and that was that he fulfilled his engagement with Lizzie Fellows.’ ‘I _wish_ you hadn’t,’ replied his wife, with a look of vexation. ‘I don’t want him to stay, under any circumstances. Things can never be the same again between us after the avowal of his impudent pretensions, and I can’t see how the matter would be improved by his marrying Lizzie Fellows. In fact, Mr Courtney, I think you should also try and provide for Lizzie elsewhere, for Quita can hardly notice her when she is Lady Johnstone, after what she has done.’ ‘Nita, I don’t believe she has done anything she need be ashamed of. I have full faith in Lizzie, as I have told you before, and I will not insult her by a suspicion of wrong. However, with regard to her marrying Henri de Courcelles, you may set your mind at rest, for she has refused him.’ ‘Lizzie has _refused_ to marry De Courcelles?’ exclaimed Mrs Courtney, with amazement.