She appeared for a moment to be searching in her mind for the best way of telling me, and at the same time expressing her sympathy; then with lowered eyes replied: 'I loved Tom--I always shall love him--and he can't love me.' She knew then! Probably every one but myself had seen it! 'In that case, you know that such things are not to be talked about, Becky.' 'Yes, Miss; only'---- 'I know that it was your regard for me which made you mention it. But we need all our strength just now--you as well as I--and we must not think or speak of anything that will weaken it. I want your help, and to help me you must be cool and quiet and strong. Will you try to be that?' 'Yes; I will--I will indeed, dear Miss Haddon;' eagerly adding: 'What can I do?' I stood pressing my two hands upon my temples in anxious thought a few moments, then asked: 'Do I look unlike my usual self, Becky--ill? Tell me exactly how I look to you?' thinking of the effect which the first sight of me had had upon her! 'Yes; you look terrible white, and wild, and trembling; and there's great black rims round your eyes,' gravely and straightforwardly replied Becky. 'As though I had been frightened by the storm. There has been a storm; hasn't there?' 'Yes; there's been a terrible storm, Miss; but'---- 'Go on, Becky.' 'You're not the sort to look like that about a storm.' 'I see.' If that was Becky's opinion, the storm would not do for Lilian and Mrs Tipper, and the alteration in my appearance must be accounted for in some other way. I was seeking about in my mind for a way out of the difficulty, when Becky unconsciously helped me with the exclamation: 'O Miss Haddon, dear, what have you done to your hand?' Looking down, I saw that there was a slight wound in it--made I suppose when I fell, by a nail or sharp stone--and that it had been bleeding somewhat freely. 'Nothing to hurt, Becky,' I murmured; 'but it will serve my purpose. Give me a handkerchief--quick! and now another!' She understood me; and when Lilian presently came running up, she found appearances sufficiently sanguinary--quite enough so, to account for my looking strange and unlike my usual self. 'Dear Mary, what is it? Oh, how have you hurt yourself?' It was really a very superficial wound; but of course I did not explain that; making a little demonstration about the wrapping up with Becky's assistance. 'It has made you look quite ill, dear!' went on Lilian, kneeling down by my side. 'Let _me_ tie that, Becky.' But Becky would not yield an inch until I had given her a little look of reminder, and then did so very reluctantly. 'And your clothes are quite wet, darling!' ejaculated Lilian. 'You must have been out in all that storm. Fearful, wasn't it? Could not you find any shelter?' 'No; it had to be borne as best it might,' I grimly replied; though I called myself to order at once; a startled look in Lilian's eyes shewing me that I could not talk about storms with impunity as yet.