"I think," said Hetty, "it would be considerably nicer for you if I didn't. I can, however, tell you this--I would never, under any circumstances, marry you." Clavering bent his head, and took himself away with the best grace he could, while Hetty, who, perhaps because she had been under a heavy strain, became suddenly sensible of a most illogical desire to laugh, afterwards admitted that he really accomplished it becomingly. But the laughter that would have been a relief to her did not come, and after toying in a purposeless fashion with her writing-case, she rose and slipped out of the room, unfortunately leaving it open. A few minutes later Clavering met the maid in the corridor that led to Torrance's room, and the girl, who saw his face, and may have guessed what had brought the anger into his eyes, stopped a moment. It is also probable that, being a young woman with quick perceptions, she had guessed with some correctness how far his regard for Hetty went. "You don't seem pleased to-night," she said. "No?" said Clavering, with a little laugh which rang hollow. "Well, I should be. It is quite a while since I had a talk with you." "Pshaw!" said the girl, who failed to blush, though she wished to, watching him covertly. "Now, I wonder if what I'm going to tell you will make you more angry still. Suppose you heard Miss Torrance had been sending letters to Larry Grant?" "I don't know that I should believe it," said Clavering, as unconcernedly as he could. "Well, she has," the girl said. "What is more, she has been going out to meet him in the Cedar Bluff." Clavering's face betrayed him, and for a moment the girl, who saw his lips set, was almost afraid. He contrived, however, to make a light answer, and was about to ask a question when a door creaked. The next moment Torrance came out into the corridor, and Clavering's opportunity vanished with the maid. Torrance, who had evidently not seen her, kept him talking for a while. In the meanwhile, the girl contrived an excuse for entering the room where she was quite aware Hetty and Clavering had met. She did not find her mistress, but, as it happened, noticed the writing-case, and, having a stake in affairs, opened it. Inside she found two sheets of paper, and after considering the probabilities of detection appropriated one of them on which was written, "Larry dear."