"Poor papa!" she sobbed. "No wonder you hate that Rupert! Beast! Oh, Hugh, Hugh, why could you not tell me before? I ought to have known," she added, reproachfully. "It could have done no good," I answered. A wave of sudden anxiety passed across her face. "Oh, Hugh!" she sobbed. "Char---- Mr. Hold----" "Mr. Holdern knows all about it," I interrupted. "I thought it right to tell him when he asked me for you." A great relief brightened her face, and she smiled through her tears. Even a woman is selfish when she is in love. "I am glad he knows," she whispered, looking into the fire. "How strange it all seems! Why our name is Devereux; you will be Sir Hugh Devereux. Why, Hugh, Devereux Court will be yours some day!" "Never!" I answered, firmly; "until Sir Francis asks my father's pardon, and receives him as a son, I shall never take the name of Devereux or enter the Court. I have sworn it, Marian." "And it was noble of you to swear it, Hugh," she whispered, coming over and kissing me. "They say truth always comes out some time or other. Perhaps this will all come right some day." "For our father's sake, pray that it may do, Marian dear," I answered, gravely. "And now run along to bed, I have some writing to do." She lingered by my side. "Hugh, what are you going to do now? You will leave here, I suppose?" "I must, Marian. Unless Sir Francis desires otherwise, I shall remain here until he has found some one else to take my place, though it will be as Hugh Arbuthnot, his agent, only, and into Devereux Court I will not go again. It will be well for Rupert Devereux, too, that he keeps out of my way," I added to myself. "When does Mr. Holdern want to marry you, Marian?" I asked her suddenly, changing the subject. She blushed up to her eyes, and looked at me half pleased, half reproachfully. "Hugh! How could you ask me like that? I--I don't quite know." "Because you'll have to go away with me, you know," I continued. "I can't leave you behind." She looked serious enough now. "Of course you can't, Hugh. I don't think I ought to leave you at all. You'll be alone if I do, with no one to look after you." I pretended to look serious, as though considering the matter, but her piteous expression and quivering lips were irresistible, and I broke into a reassuring laugh. "Not I, Marian! It is the best thing that could possibly have happened. When I have no longer you to look after I shall go abroad, wherever our father is, and share his lot. Country life is beginning to get wearisome to me. I was meant to be a soldier, I think. Now, Marian, you must really go to bed. I want to be alone." It was past twelve, and I was beginning to get anxious. But she still lingered for a moment. "Hugh, I had almost forgotten, I have something for you, and a message." I bent over my desk, lest she should see the light which sprung into my face. I did not wish even Marian to know my secret. "What is it?" I asked. "Be quick."