“You are so simple, _ma mignonette_; I hardly know how to tell you,” I began pitifully. “Tell me! O, what, Diana? I am frightened.” “I wish you to be. Patty”--I took her two entreating hands into one of mine, and with the other made a significant gesture--“all this--these little costly gifts--has it never occurred to you, child, that they are bribes”-- I stopped. “To me?” she whispered, with a whole heart of astonishment. “To your honour, child.” “To--?” She gulped, and turned as pale as death. “He has promised to show you his Richmond cottage?” “Yes.” “To-night?” “Yes. How did you know?” “Never mind. I know. You must not go.” “How can I help it? Diana!” She sunk down before me, quite helpless and unnerved. “Patty,” I said, “you have never ceased to love and trust your sister?” “Never, never--you are before all the world to me. Diana! You will find a way!” “If you are strong--yes. I have been alert and watchful, child, while you never knew it. But he did; and he means to separate us; to rid himself of the watch-dog, that he may seize the lamb. He has but this moment told me I must go--with what coarseness and insult I will not soil your ears by repeating. If you love your honour, as I love and have sacrificed myself to save it, you must come with me.” “I will come”--she rose hurriedly to her feet. “How can I ever repay you, sister? The old, wicked man! At once--Diana! let us fly at once!” “Hush! We must be circumspect. You don’t know-- There, child, I will die to save you.” She clung to me, in a gush of silent tears. Hastily I instructed her--it was necessary in escaping to leave no trail--in my plan. It was that, in an hour’s time, she should order out her barouche (there was one put at her disposal), and, having driven to Grosvenor Gate, alight and dismiss it, as if with the intention to walk in the park. Thence she was to make her way on foot to Mrs. Trix’s toy-shop in Piccadilly, and, having asked very privately to be shown into the parlour, await me there, in whatever company she should find. She obeyed, heedful, in her panic, to the last details. Luckily, my lord, being gone abroad to his lawyers, there were no prying eyes to criticise her. No sooner was she driven off than--having collected into a stocking all our jewels, and whatever money I could lay hands on, which I hung from my waist out of sight--I stole forth by the back way into the stables, and thence to the street, where I found a hackney coach, and drove after my friend.