"Oh! but you must put it off, you really _must_ see Webster. He is my greatest friend, and is to be my best man. You really must, Lottie! and he telegraphs that he is coming up from Oxford on purpose." "I am ever so sorry. Could not you telegraph to him to put off his visit until to-morrow?" "No, my dear; he has started before this." "I am very sorry; I am unfortunate," repeated Charlotte. A certain degree of obstinacy, altogether foreign to her nature, had crept into her voice. Hinton looked at her in undisguised astonishment. "You don't mean to say that you are not going to see Webster, when he is coming up to town on purpose?" "John, dear, I will see him at five o'clock, I shall be home then. But I have an engagement at three." "I cannot bring Webster here at five, he must be on his way back then. You must put off your engagement." "I really cannot. Uncle Jasper has just been here, and he asked me to go with him to see the private views at Mrs. ----'s studio. He took some trouble to get the invitation for us both, but I could not go with him, nor can I stay in. Mr. Webster must wait to make my acquaintance on our wedding-day, John." "And I am to tell him that?" "Say everything as nice and polite as you can. Say that I am most truly sorry." Hinton turned his back on his promised bride; there was a cloud on his brow, he felt both hurt and angry. "Lottie! what is your engagement?" This was said while pretending to look down the street. Charlotte came close and put her hand a little timidly on his shoulder. "I know you will be vexed," she said "but I cannot tell you." Hinton held up his hand to a passing hansom. "Yes, I am vexed," he said, "but I cannot wait any longer now. You know I hate secrets, and I think you might have obliged me, Charlotte." "I wish I could," she said, and now her eyes filled with tears. Hinton scarcely kissed her before he rushed away, and Charlotte sank down on the nearest chair. The unaccountable feeling which had prompted her to refuse both her uncle and her lover, and to fix just that hour of three o'clock to visit Somerset House, was too strange and strong to be overcome. But the hope which had brightened her breakfast hour had now all departed. Her heart felt like lead within her breast, she dared not fully contemplate the realization of her worst fears. But they thronged like legion round her path. CHAPTER XXXI. WHERE HAD THE MONEY CARES VANISHED TO? Hinton felt thoroughly angry; perhaps he had some cause. Webster, his college chum, his greatest friend, was coming up to town. He had heard many times and often of Hinton's promised bride, and he was coming to town, Hinton knew well at some personal inconvenience, to see her, and she refused to see him.