"Mrs. Denton?" said Laura. "_Mrs. Denton?_ What on earth had she to do with it?" "She heard you drive up. You know her room looks on the front." "And she listened? sly old creature!" said Laura, recovering herself. "Well, it can't be helped. If she heard, she heard, and whatever I may feel, I'm not going to apologise to Mrs. Denton." "But, Laura--Laura--was he----" Augustina could not finish the odious question. "I suppose he was," said Laura bitterly. "It seems to be the natural thing for young men of that sort." "Laura, do come here." Laura came unwillingly, and Augustina took her hands and looked up at her. "And, Laura, he was abominably rude to Alan!" "Yes, he was, and I'm very sorry," said the girl slowly. "But it can't be helped, and it's no good making yourself miserable, Augustina." "Miserable? I? It's you, Laura, who look miserable. I never saw you look so white and dragged. You must never, never see him again." The girl's obstinacy awoke in a moment. "I don't know that I shall promise that, Augustina." "Oh, Laura! as if you could wish to," said Augustina, in tears. "I can't give up my father's people," said the girl stiffly. "But he shall never annoy Mr. Helbeck again, I promise you that, Augustina." "Oh! you did look so nice, Laura, and your dress was so pretty!" Laura laughed, rather grimly. "There's not much of it left this morning," she said. "However, as one of the gentlemen who kindly helped to ruin it said last night, 'Lor, bless yer, it'll wesh!'" * * * * * After breakfast Laura found herself in the drawing-room, looking through an open window at the spring green in a very strained and irritable mood. "I would not begin if I could not go on," she said to herself with disdain. But her lip trembled. So Mr. Helbeck had taken offence, after all. Hardly a word at breakfast, except such as the briefest, barest civility required. And he was going away, it appeared, for three days, perhaps a week, on business. If he had given her the slightest opening, she had meant to master her pride sufficiently to renew her apologies and ask his advice, subject, of course, to her own final judgment as to what kindred and kindness might require of her. But he had given her no opening, and the subject was not, apparently, to be renewed between them. She might have asked him, too, to curb Mrs. Denton's tongue. But no, it was not to be. Very well. The girl drew her small frame together and prepared, as no one thought for or befriended her, to think for and befriend herself. She passed the next few days in some depression. Mr. Helbeck was absent. Augustina was very ailing and querulous, and Laura was made to feel that it was her fault. Not a word of regret or apology came from Browhead Farm.