’I am certain he has not. He would not dare to dispose of my mother’s jewels without consulting me. I gave them to him to keep for me. I did not authorise him to sell them.’ ’Have you any means of which we know nothing?—money not given to my father which you trusted to Mr. Herring along with the diamonds?’ ’No, Orange.’ ’Has nothing been forwarded to you of his property from Brazil?’ ’No, Orange.’ ’Then, whence comes this money? I suppose Mr. Herring has spent a hundred and fifty pounds on the furniture. He has lodged a hundred pounds in the bank, and promises you as much quarterly.’ ’Yes, it is so.’ ’But, Mirelle, do you not see that, in this case, you are living on Mr. Herring’s alms! He is not a rich man. I have heard from my father about him. I do not believe he is worth more than six to seven hundred pounds a year, and he is giving you four out of the six or seven—nay, he has given you more.’ Mirelle looked before her. She had not thought of this before. Brought up without care of money, everything she had being paid for by her father, it had not struck her that she was now living on the bounty of one who was no relative. ’It is very good of Mr. Herring,’ she said. ’My dear Mirelle, this must not go on.’ ’Why not?’ ’What right have you to accept and spend the money of Mr. Herring? He is no relative. You have no claim on him.’ Mirelle was uneasy. ’Why, then, has he done so much for me?’ ’That is what I ask. Realise what this means. He is impoverishing himself to support you? What will the world say? What must it say? That which Mr. Herring is doing for you he has no right to do for any woman except a _wife_.’ Then Mirelle sprang to her feet trembling; she could not colour over brow and bosom like Orange, but two rosy tinges came into her cheeks. Her whole delicate frame quivered, and her eyes became dull. She placed her hands over her heart, and looked at Orange speechlessly. ’Yes,’ said the latter, ’you cannot; what is more, you must not receive all this from a young man without having a shadow of claim upon him. The only claim you can have to justify the receiving of so much is the legitimate claim of a wife.’ ’Have done!’ gasped Mirelle, holding out her hand entreatingly. ’No, Mirelle, I must be plain with you. In this town it will soon be known that you are being supported in comfort by a young officer, who is neither a brother nor even a cousin. What conclusion will be drawn?’ ’Orange,’ said the girl, pleadingly, ’I pray you to be silent.’ ’I will not be silent,’ answered Orange. ’One of two things must be done; must, I say. Do you hear me, MUST. Either you give Mr. Herring a legitimate right to maintain you, or my mother and I leave this place and do not speak to you again.’ ’I do not understand you,’ said Mirelle. ’Why should you cast me off?’