Sir Franks took him aside, and returning remarked to his wife that she perhaps would have greater influence with him. All this while Rose sat talking to Mrs. Andrew Cogglesby, Mrs. Strike, and Evan's mother. She saw by his face the offence she had committed, and acted on by one of her impulses, said: 'Mama, I think if I were to speak to Mr. Harrington--' Ere her mother could make light of the suggestion, Old Tom had jumped up, and bowed out his arm. 'Allow me to conduct ye to the drawing room, upstairs, young lady. He'll follow, safe enough!' Rose had not stipulated for that. Nevertheless, seeing no cloud on her mother's face, or her father's, she gave Old Tom her hand, and awaited a movement from Evan. It was too late to object to it on either side. Old Tom had caught the tide at the right instant. Much as if a grim old genie had planted them together, the lovers found themselves alone. 'Evan, you forgive me?' she began, looking up at him timidly. 'With all my heart, Rose,' he answered, with great cheerfulness. 'No. I know your heart better. Oh, Evan! you must be sure that we respect you too much to wound you. We came to thank you for your generosity. Do you refuse to accept anything from us? How can we take this that you thrust on us, unless in some way--' 'Say no more,' he interposed. 'You see me here. You know me as I am, now.' 'Yes, yes!' the tears stood in her eyes. 'Why did I come, you would ask? That is what you cannot forgive! I see now how useless it was. Evan! why did you betray me?' 'Betray you, Rose?' 'You said that you loved me once.' She was weeping, and all his spirit melted, and his love cried out: 'I said "till death," and till death it will be, Rose.' 'Then why, why did you betray me, Evan? I know it all. But if you blackened yourself to me, was it not because you loved something better than me? And now you think me false! Which of us two has been false? It 's silly to talk of these things now too late! But be just. I wish that we may be friends. Can we, unless you bend a little?' The tears streamed down her cheeks, and in her lovely humility he saw the baseness of that pride of his which had hitherto held him up. 'Now that you are in this house where I was born and am to live, can you regret what has come between us, Rose?' Her lips quivered in pain. 'Can I do anything else but regret it all my life, Evan?' How was it possible for him to keep his strength?