"It is--it is," Mary faltered, "a fearful thing if suffered to rest there; but surely his is not the course to accomplish the removal of the idea. Let Eustace Trevor but return--let him at least try and experience what a brother's kindness--what a sister's love can do, to wipe from his remembrance the morbid memory of his past affliction; and show to the world (if he fears its altered smiles) that the shock his noble mind sustained was but for a moment; that he is--" But it was enough--those words, a brother's kindness--still more, a sister's love, had thrilled acutely upon the listener's heart. And Mary paused, startled to behold the expression in the eyes bent so earnestly upon her. "A sister's love!" what was such love to him! However, with another strong effort he said in a voice scarce audible from emotion, "For such a sister's love, he might indeed brave and defy the scorn--the ignominy of the universe; but," he faltered, "it cannot be." A silence of some minutes ensued. It was broken by Mary, who said in an anxious trembling voice, "Mr. Temple, I have a favour to ask of you: I know you are acquainted with much of the private history of the Trevors--I am _sure_ you are--I therefore entreat you will speak candidly upon the subject, and tell me your own opinion of Eugene Trevor. To you I can speak as I feel I can to no one else. My mind of late has been disturbed by doubts and fears upon the subject of Eugene. I know you _can_, you _will_ speak the truth; so conceal not your real opinion from me." "Miss Seaham, excuse me," Mr. Temple replied gravely, and with a degree of proud coldness. "I must decline to speak in any way of Eugene Trevor. It is a long time now since we have met." "Oh, why--why," faltered Mary, with clasped hands and streaming eyes, "would you too, like the rest, by your looks, even by your silence, make me suspect the worth, the rectitude of Eugene, and give me the miserable idea that the affection and heart's devotion now of years have been wasted and bestowed in vain?" It was a difficult moment for that generous, noble soul. The peculiar situation in which he was placed almost bewildered his sense of discernment between what was right and wrong in his position, and darkened the way before him. How act--how speak--how meet this critical emergency? The struggle must have been indeed intense, which enabled him at length to rise a conqueror over the conflicting powers which beset his soul, to subdue all selfish promptings of inferior nature--all selfish impulses and considerations; and speak and act as one might have spoken and acted who had never been Mary Seaham's lover, or Eugene Trevor's injured brother.