"You were bound to tell me, but should not have asked me. There are things which do not require asking. What must I do with him?" "Nothing. Nothing can be done. You could not touch the subject without alluding to my sister. She is coming back to Hendon in another week." "She was there before, but I did not see her." "Of course you did not see her. How should you?" "Simply by going there." "She would not have seen you." There came a black frown over Roden's brow as he heard this. "It has been understood between my father and Fanny and myself that you should not come to Hendon while she is living with me." "Should not I have been a party to that agreement?" "Hardly, I think. This agreement must have been made whether you assented or not. On no other terms would my father have permitted her to come. It was most desirable that she should be separated from Lady Kingsbury." "Oh, yes." "And therefore the agreement was advisable. I would not have had her on any other terms." "Why not?" "Because I think that such visitings would have been unwise. It is no use my blinking it to you. I do not believe that the marriage is practicable." "I do." "As I don't, of course I cannot be a party to throwing you together. Were you to persist in coming you would only force me to find a home for her elsewhere." "I have not disturbed you." "You have not. Now I want you to promise me that you will not. I have assured my father that it shall be so. Will you say that you will neither come to her at Hendon Hall, or write to her, while she is staying with me?" He paused on the road for an answer, but Roden walked on without making one, and Hampstead was forced to accompany him. "Will you promise me?" "I will not promise. I will do nothing which may possibly subject me to be called a liar. I have no wish to knock at any door at which I do not think myself to be welcome." "You know how welcome you would be at mine, but for her." "It might be that I should find myself forced to endeavour to see her, and I will therefore make no promise. A man should fetter himself by no assurances of that kind as to his conduct. If a man be a drunkard, it may be well that he should bind himself by a vow against drinking. But he who can rule his own conduct should promise nothing. Good-day now. I must be back to dinner with my mother." Then he took his leave somewhat abruptly, and returned. Hampstead went on to Hendon with his thoughts sometimes fixed on his sister, sometimes on Roden, whom he regarded as impracticable, sometimes on that horrid Crocker;--but more generally on Marion Fay, whom he resolved that he must see again, whatever might be the difficulties in his way. CHAPTER XVII. LORD HAMPSTEAD'S SCHEME.