Then she hesitated, and for a minute or two she remained thoughtful and silent, while he was inwardly hoping that she was not going to draw back. Suddenly she looked up at him with earnest and anxious eyes. "Oh, Mr. Trelyon," she said, "this is a very serious thing. You--you will be kind to our Wenna after she is married to you?" "You will see, Mabyn," he answered gently. "You don't know how sensitive she is," she continued, apparently thinking over all the possibilities of the future in a much graver fashion than she had done. "If you were unkind to her it would kill her. Are you quite sure you won't regret it?" "Yes, I am quite sure of that," said he--"as sure as a man may be. I don't think you need fear my being unkind to Wenna. Why, what has put such thoughts into your head?" "If you were to be cruel to her or indifferent," she said slowly and absently, "I know that would kill her. But I know more than that: _I would kill you._" "Mabyn," he said, quite startled, "whatever has put such thoughts into your head?" "Why," she said passionately, "haven't I seen already how a man can treat her? Haven't I read the insolent letters he has sent her? Haven't I seen her throw herself on her bed, beside herself with grief? And--and--these are things I don't forget, Mr. Trelyon. No, I have got a word to say to Mr. Roscorla yet for his treatment of my sister; and I will say it. And then--" The proud lips were beginning to quiver. "Come, come, Mabyn," said Trelyon gently, "don't imagine all men are the same. And perhaps Roscorla will have been paid out quite sufficiently when he hears of to-night's work. I sha'n't bear him any malice after that, I know. Already, I confess, I feel a good deal of compunction as regards him." "I don't at all--I don't a bit," said Mabyn, who very quickly recovered herself whenever Mr. Roscorla's name was mentioned. "If you only can get her to go away with you, Mr. Trelyon, it will serve him just right. Indeed, it is on his account that I hope you will be successful. I--I don't quite like Wenna running away with you, to tell you the truth. I would rather have her left to a quiet decision, and to a marriage with everybody approving. But there is no chance of that. This is the only thing that will save her." "That is precisely what I said to you," Trelyon said eagerly, for he was afraid of losing so invaluable an ally. "And you will be very, very kind to her?" "I'm not good at fine words, Mabyn. You'll see." She held out her hand to him and pressed his warmly: "I believe you will be a good husband to her; and I know you will get the best wife in the whole world." She was going away when he suddenly said, "Mabyn!" She turned. "Do you know," said he, rather shamefacedly, "how much I am grateful to you for all your frank, straightforward kindness--and your help--and your courage?" "No, no," said the young girl good-humoredly. "You make Wenna happy, and don't consider me." CHAPTER XXXV. UNDER THE WHITE STARS.