"I know what you refer to. Yes, she told me, of that unfortunate incident, and spoke of it with deep regret. The poor girl simply lost her head; for a moment she could think of nothing but self-preservation. Put yourself in her place. She saw utter ruin before her, and was driven almost crazy. I can assure you that she was not responsible for that piece of disloyalty. I am afraid not many girls would have been more heroic in such a terrible situation. You, a philosopher, must take account of human weakness." "I hope I can do that," said Lashmar, with a liberal air. "Under other circumstances, I should hardly have mentioned the thing. But it convinced me at the time that Miss Tomalin had deceived herself as to her feeling for me, and now that everything is necessarily at an end between us, I prefer to see it still in the same light, for it assures me that she has suffered no injury at _my_ hands." "But, pray, why should everything be necessarily at an end?" "For two or three reasons, Mrs. Toplady. One will suffice. After Miss Tomalin had left the room, Lady Ogram insisted on my making offer of immediate marriage to Miss Bride. Being plainly released from the other obligation, I did so--and Miss Bride gave her consent." Mrs. Toplady arched her eyebrows, and rippled a pleasant laugh. "Ah! That, of course, May could not know. I may presume that, _this_ time, the engagement is serious?" "Undoubtedly," Lashmar replied, grave yet bland. "Then I can only ask you to pardon my interference." "Not at all. You have shown great kindness, and, under other circumstances, we should not have differed for a moment as to the course it behooved me to follow." Dyce had never heard himself speak so magnanimously; he smiled with pleasure, and continued in a peculiarly suave voice. "I am sure Miss Tomalin will find in you a steadfast friend." "I shall do what I can for her, of course," was the rather dry answer. "At the same time, I hold to my view of Miss Bride's responsibility. The girl has really nothing to live upon; a miserable hundred a year; all very well when she belonged to the family at Northampton, but useless now she is adrift. To tell you the truth, I shall wait with no little curiosity for Miss Bride's--and your--decision." "Need I say that Miss Bride will be absolutely free to take any step she likes?" "How could I doubt it?" exclaimed the lady, with her most expressive smile. "Do you allow me to make known the--the renewal of your engagement?" "Certainly," Dyce answered, beaming upon her. Mrs. Toplady rose. "I am so happy to have been the first to bring you the news. But it a little surprises me that you had not learnt it already from Miss Bride, who knew all about the will two days ago."