The afternoon and evening passed pleasantly. Early the next morning Sophie returned to Heath Hall, to recommence her school duties. That day passed as usual; in the evening after tea, Sophie sat by the open window; it was a beautiful starlight night, and she delayed ordering lights, preferring to enjoy the cool night air, and listen to the pleasant night sounds by the open window. Presently a tall dark figure passed before the window, and in another moment the minister had entered and was by her side. “Good evening, Miss Churchill.” “Good evening, Mr. Withers.” He took a seat by her side, and sat with his head bowed upon his hands that rested upon the top of a stick held between his knees; he was silent a long time; at last Sophie arose to order lights. “Where are you going, Miss Churchill?” “To have candles brought.” “Sit still, Miss Churchill.” Sophie resumed her seat. “You have had a very pleasant visit to the Grove, Miss Churchill?” “Very, sir.” “Humph! you were very much pleased with Mr. Wilde?” “Yes, sir.” “Ah! that is very candid. But do you think, Miss Churchill, that I can altogether approve of the marked preference shown by a young lady in your circumstances for a young gentleman?” Sophie looked bewildered, dismayed. The poor girl, naturally timid, had been made quite cowardly by the misconceptions, misconstructions, and misrepresentations of others; she grew pale, and replied with a faltering voice— “I—I did not know—I knew—I know that my profession would seem to require more steadiness, gravity, and circumspection than I possess—but I was unconscious of any—” Her voice faltered, broke down, and she stopped short, and burst into tears. He answered sternly— “You know very well, Miss Churchill, that it is not your ‘profession’ I speak of. What can _that_ be thought to have to do with your preferences? No, Miss Churchill, you know very well that I allude to the relations subsisting between us.” “The relations subsisting between us?” faltered Sophie. “You certainly cannot successfully affect ignorance of a fact with which the whole county is acquainted, though it may _now_ seem convenient for you to attempt it.” He paused. “Well, Miss Churchill?” “I do not understand you at all, sir.” “Then all the county understands and have understood for two months past, that we are to be married soon, Miss Churchill.” “Oh, my God, no! You never dreamed—_I_ never dreamed of that! Oh, no! I had rather _die_! Oh! God knows I had!” exclaimed Sophie, wildly, clasping her hands and rising. He caught her hand, and pressed her trembling into her seat again. “Your aversion to me is certainly flattering—_very_ flattering, Miss Churchill—but it is rather late _now_ to express it. You have received my visits nightly for three months past—and now, to-night, for the first time, you express a strong and utter aversion to me.”