"And don't you see, mother, how it all lies within her reach? Harry Trelyon is in love with her: there was no need for him to say so. I knew it long before he did. And she--why, she has told him now that she cares for him; and if I were he, I know what I'd do in his place. What is there in the way? Why, a--a sort of understanding." "A promise, Mabyn," said the mother. "Well, a promise," said the girl desperately, and coloring somewhat. "But it was a promise given in ignorance: she didn't know--how could she know? Everybody knows that such promises are constantly broken. If you are in love with somebody else, what's the good of your keeping the promise? Now, mother, won't you argue with her? See here: if she keeps her promise, there's three people miserable. If she breaks it, there's only one; and I doubt whether he's got the capacity to be miserable. That's two to one, or three to one, is it? Now, will you argue with her, mother?" "Mabyn, Mabyn," the mother said with a shake of the head, but evidently pleased with the voice of the tempter, "your fancy has run away with you. Why, Mr. Trelyon has never proposed to marry her." "I know he wants to," said Mabyn confidently. "How can you know?" "I'll ask him and prove it to you." "Indeed," said the mother sadly, "it is no thought of marriage that is in Wenna's head just now. The poor girl is full of remorse and apprehension. I think she would like to start at once for Jamaica, and fling herself at Mr. Roscorla's feet and confess her fault. I am glad she has to go back to Eglosilyan: that may distract her mind in a measure: at present she is suffering more than she shows." "Where is she?" "In her own room, tired out and fast asleep. I looked in a few minutes ago." Mabyn went up stairs, after having seen that Jennifer had properly bestowed her box. Wenna had just risen from the sofa, and was standing in the middle of the room. Her younger and taller sister went blithely forward to her, kissed her as usual, took no notice of the sudden flush of red that sprang into her face, and proceeded to state, in a business-like fashion, all the arrangements that had to be made. "Have you been enjoying yourself, Wenna?" Mabyn said with a fine air of indifference. "Oh yes," Wenna answered; adding hastily, "Don't you think mother is greatly improved?" "Wonderfully! I almost forgot she was an invalid. How lucky you are to be going back to see all the fine doings at the Hall! Of course they will ask you up." "They will do nothing of the kind," Wenna said with some asperity, and with her face turned aside. "Lord and Lady Amersham have already come to the Hall." "Oh, indeed!" "Yes. They said some time ago that there was a good chance of Mr. Trelyon marrying the daughter--the tall girl with yellow hair, you remember?" "And the stooping shoulders? Yes. I should think they would be glad to get her married to anybody. She's thirty." "Oh, Wenna!" "Mr. Trelyon told me so," said Wenna sharply.