These arguments were so strong and convincing to Charlotte that I did not attempt to discuss them further, salving my conscience by the thought that there remained his Majesty's post, and that a letter addressed to her father at the Farmers' Ordinary Room, in care of the King's Arms, would clear me of all financial responsibility. But this I took care not to mention to Lottie, because it might have savoured of treachery and disturbed her. On the other hand, I began urging her to find another confidant than Agnes Anne. She would do well enough for ordinary letters which I was to send on to Cousin Tom. But she must not know they were not for me. She must think that all was going on well between us. This, I showed her, was a necessity. Charlotte felt the need also, and suggested this girl and that at Miss Seraphina Huntingdon's. But I objected to all. I had to think quick, for some were very nice girls, and at most times would have served their country quite well. But I stuck to it that they were too near head-quarters. They would be sure to get found out by Miss Huntingdon. "It is true," she meditated, "she _is_ a prying old cat." "I don't see anybody for it but Miss Irma, over at my grandmother's!" I said, boldly striking the blow to which I had been so long leading up. Charlotte gazed at me so long and so intently that I was sure she smelt a rat. But the pure innocence of my gaze, and the frank readiness with which I gave my reasons, disarmed her. "You see," I said, "she is the only girl quite out of the common run to whom you have access. You can go to Heathknowes as often as you like with Agnes Anne. Nobody will say a word. They will think it quite natural--to hear the latest about me, you know. Then when you are alone with Miss Irma, you can burst into tears and tell her our secret----" "All----?" she questioned, with strong emphasis. "Well," I hastened to reply, "all that is strictly necessary for a stranger to know--as, for instance, that _you_ don't want to marry me, and that _I_ never wanted to marry you----" "Oh," she cried, moving in a shocked, uneasy manner, "but I thought _you_ did!" "Well, but--," I stammered, for I was momentarily unhinged, "you see you must put things that way to get Miss Irma to help us. She can do anything with my father, and I believe she could with yours too if she got a chance." "Oh, no, she couldn't!" "Well, anyway, she would serve us faithfully, so long as we couldn't trust Agnes Anne. And you know we agreed upon that. If you can think of anything better, of course I leave it to you!" She sat a long while making up her mind, with a woman's intuition that all the cards were not on the table. But in the long run she could make no better of it. "Well, I will," she said; "I always liked her face, and I don't believe she is nearly so haughty as people make out."