"Oh, nurse--Nurse Elisia!" cried the girl at last, as she looked wonderingly in the proud, stern face whose gaze was still directed at the closed door, "what can I do to thank you?" "Thank me with your love." "Oh, I will, I will; but," she continued timidly, as if hardly daring to ask--"but you knew him--you knew this man--before--you came here?" "Yes, dear, when I was a girl like you, as trusting and as loving. Before I became old and hard and stern as I am now. I met him at a famous party; we were introduced, and, in my girlish folly, I thought him all that was chivalrous and noble. He told me he loved me as time went on, and I believed him. We became engaged. The time drew near when he was to have been my husband." "To have been your husband?" said Isabel, looking at the speaker wonderingly. "Yes; to have been my husband, dear, and the wedding gifts came fast. Life seemed so joyous to me then; and in another week I should have been his wife, but I was stayed from that--in time." "From that? In time?" "Yes. I say in my blindness I thought him everything that was noble and good, and when the truth was brought home to me I would not believe it then. I defended him against all who attacked him, for I said, `It is impossible--he loves me too well, and I love him. No man could be so base.'" "And you found out--was it true--true?" "You saw him leave us, my child. He wrecked my life. Would he have gone like that if my words had not been just?" "Nurse Elisia!" "No; don't call me that again." "Not call you that? What does it all mean?" "I cannot tell you now, dear. Think of me always as a very dear friend. I am worthy to be called so, and some day I will tell you all my past." "But--" "No, no; not now. Let us go up to your room." "Yes, before Aunt comes. I cannot meet her now." "No; and to-morrow, if your father can bear it, go to him and tell him what took place to-night--all that I have said. He can easily find out the truth, and he will not allow Sir Cheltnam Burwood to speak to you again." "You think so?" cried the girl excitedly. "I know it, dear. Your father has been hard and obstinate of will, but he loves his children as an English gentleman should; and, as a man of honour, when he knows all, he will never sanction that man's presence here." "And--when I tell him, you will speak? It is so terrible. He will want to know all the past." "No: I cannot be Sir Cheltnam Burwood's accuser, even now." "You will not speak?" "My mission is at an end, dear. It is impossible for me to stay. I shall not be here." Isabel looked up wonderingly, and then raised her face to kiss Elisia's lips as she slowly clasped her neck. The next moment she was passionately clasped to the nurse's heart. "God bless you, darling! Good-bye!" was sobbed in Isabel's ear, and the next minute she was alone. CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. JUMPING AT CONCLUSIONS.