“I don’t think it came upon him altogether as a surprise. Although he did not say so, I fancy he suspected the truth before.” “I have never found Lisle deficient in perspicacity,” said Sir Gilbert as if speaking to himself. “I hope neither of you has forgotten that I am Everard Lisle’s promised wife,” said Ethel with a little gasp, as her eyes glanced from one to the other and then were again averted. “That is a fact which neither your grandfather nor I would be at all likely to forget,” replied John, gravely. There was a pause. Presently John reached forward and again laid his hand on her hair. “Darling, you have something more to tell us—I feel sure of it,” he said very gently. “Speak. You have nothing to fear.” “Yes, I have something more to tell you. Everard insisted on giving me back my promise and that all should be at an end between us.” The eyes of the two men met across the figure of the crouching girl. “Doubtless he had some more or less valid reason to urge for insisting that the engagement between you should be broken off.” It was her father who spoke. “Oh, he was quite explicit as to his reasons. I am no longer the nameless, portionless girl to whom he engaged himself, but the granddaughter of Sir Gilbert Clare of Withington Chase; whereas, he is only Sir Gilbert Clare’s dependent.” “I felt sure from the first that Lisle had all the instincts of a gentleman,” interpolated the Baronet. “Well, my dear, and what answer did you make this very self-willed young man?” queried John. “I refused to take back my promise, and told him that whatever might be the alteration in my position and prospects I owed it wholly to him, but that as between him and me nothing whatever was changed.” “He had something to say to that, I have no doubt.” “He persisted in saying that all was at an end between us, and bade me remember that there were others whom I must now consider, and who have a right to expect the duty and obedience which is their due.” The Baronet nodded his head as one in thorough accord with the views thus enunciated. “Yes—and then?” said John. “Then I left him and came direct to you”—with a gesture that included both the men. “You acted very rightly, my dear,” remarked her grandfather.