"Things have gone on as they went on before; and I stand engaged to Maude, in her mother's opinion; perhaps in hers: never having said myself one word to support the engagement." "Only continued to 'make love,' and 'snatch a kiss,'" sarcastically rejoined Mr. Carr. "Once in a way. What is a man to do, exposed to the witchery of a pretty girl?" "Oh, Percival! You are worse than I thought for. Where is Miss Ashton?" "Coming home next Friday," groaned Val. "And the dowager asked me yesterday whether Maude and I had arranged the time for our marriage. What on earth I shall do, I don't know. I might sail for some remote land and convert myself into a savage, where I should never be found or recognized; there's no other escape for me." "How much does Miss Ashton know of this?" "Nothing. I had a letter from her this morning, more kindly than her letters have been of late." "Lord Hartledon!" exclaimed Mr. Carr, in startled tones. "Is it possible that you are carrying on a correspondence with Miss Ashton, and your love-making with Lady Maude?" Val nodded assent, looking really ashamed of himself. "And you call yourself a man of honour! Why, you are the greatest humbug--" "That's enough; no need to sum it up. I see all I've been." "I understood you to imply that your correspondence with Miss Ashton had ceased." "It was renewed. Dr. Ashton came up to preach one Sunday, just before Christmas, and he and I got friendly again; you know I never can be unfriendly with any one long. The next day I wrote to Anne, and we have corresponded since; more coolly though than we used to do. Circumstances have been really against me. Had they continued at Ventnor, I should have gone down and spent my Christmas with them, and nothing of this would have happened; but they must needs go to Dr. Ashton's sister's in Yorkshire for Christmas; and there they are still. It was in that miserable Christmas week that the mischief occurred. And now you have the whole, Carr. I know I've been a fool; but what is to be done?" "Lord Hartledon," was the grave rejoinder, "I am unable to give you advice in this. Your conduct is indefensible." "Don't 'Lord Hartledon' me: I won't stand it. Carr?" "Well?" "If you bring up against me a string of reproaches lasting until night will that mend matters? I am conscious of possessing but one true friend in the world, and that's yourself. You must stand by me." "I was your friend; never a truer. But I believed you to be a man of honour." Hartledon lifted his hat from his brow; as though the brow alone were heavy enough just then. At least the thought struck Mr. Carr. "I have been drawn unwittingly into this, as I have into other things. I never meant to do wrong. As to dishonour, Heaven knows my nature shrinks from it."