“Oh, don't! She is so sorry; she has taken it all to heart. She had once shammed a fit, on the very place; and when you had a real fit there--on the very spot--oh, it was so fearful--and lay like one dead, she saw God's finger, and it touched her hard heart. Don't say anything more against her just now. She is trying so hard to be good. And, besides, it is all a mistake: she never told that old admiral; she never breathed a word out of her own house. Her own people have betrayed her and you. She has made me promise two things: to find out who told the admiral, and--” “Well?” “The second thing I have to do--Well, that is a secret between me and that unhappy woman. She is bad enough, but not so heartless as you think.” Sir Charles shook his head incredulously, but said no more; and soon after fell asleep. In the evening he woke, and found the Sister watching. She now turned her head away from him, and asked him quietly to describe Miss Bella Bruce to her. He described her in minute and glowing terms. “But oh, Sister,” said he, “it is not her beauty only, but the beauty of her mind. So gentle, so modest, so timid, so docile. She would never have had the heart to turn me off. But she will obey her father. She looked forward to obey me, sweet dove.” “Did she say so?” “Yes, that is her dream of happiness, to obey.” The Sister still questioned him with averted head, and he told her what had passed between Bella and him the last time he saw her, and all their innocent plans of married happiness. He told her, with the tear in his eye, and she listened, with the tear in hers. “And then,” said he, laying his hand on her shoulder, “is it not hard? I just went to Mayfair, not to please myself, but to do an act of justice--of more than justice; and then, for that, to have her door shut in my face. Only two hours between the height of happiness and the depth of misery.” The Sister said nothing, but she hid her face in her hands, and thought. The next morning, by her order, Polly came into the room, and said, “You are to go home. The carriage is at the door.” With this she retired, and Sir Charles's valet entered the room soon after to help him dress. “Where am I, James?” “Miss Somerset's house, Sir Charles.” “Then get me out of it directly.” “Yes, Sir Charles. The carriage is at the door.” “Who told you to come, James?” “Miss Somerset, Sir Charles.” “That is odd.” “Yes, Sir Charles.” When he got home he found a sofa placed by a fire, with wraps and pillows; his cigar case laid out, and a bottle of salts, and also a small glass of old cognac, in case of faintness. “Which of you had the gumption to do all this?” “Miss Somerset, Sir Charles.” “What, has she been _here?”_ “Yes, Sir Charles.” “Curse her!” “Yes, Sir Charles.” CHAPTER VII. “LOVE LIES BLEEDING.”