‘All that can change nothing,’ said Cecilia, after a moment. ‘The man is the same; he has done no wrong.’ ‘His very existence is a wrong,’ cried Lady Eliza, her hand shutting tightly on the gloves she held; ‘it is a wrong done by an infamous woman!’ ‘I love him,’ said Cecilia: ‘nothing can alter that. You received him, and you told me nothing, and the thing is done--not that I would undo it if I could. How could I know that you would be so much against it?’ ‘I had rather anything in the world than this!’ exclaimed the other--‘anyone but this man! What has driven you to make such a choice?’ ‘Does it seem so hard to understand why anyone should love Gilbert Speid?’ ‘It is a calamity that you should; think of it again--to please me--to make me happy. I can scarcely bear the thought, child; you do not know the whole of this miserable business.’ ‘And I hoped that you would be so pleased!’ The tears were starting to Cecilia’s eyes; her nerves, strained to the utmost by the emotions of the day, were beginning to give way. ‘Whanland is so near,’ she said; ‘we should scarcely have to part, dear aunt.’ She was longing to know more, to ask for complete enlightenment, but her pride struggled hard, and she shrank from the mere semblance of misgiving about Gilbert. She had none in her heart. ‘Is this that you have told me generally known?’ she said at last. ‘No one knows as much as I do,’ answered the elder woman, turning her head away. ‘Does Mr. Fullarton know?’ asked Cecilia. Lady Eliza did not reply for a moment, and, when she did, her head was still turned from the girl. ‘I know his real history--his whole history,’ she replied in a thick voice; ‘other people may guess at it, but they know nothing.’ ‘You will not tell me more?’ ‘I cannot!’ cried Lady Eliza, getting up and turning upon her almost fiercely; ‘there is no more to be said. If you want to marry him, I suppose you will marry him; I cannot stop you. What is it to you if my heart breaks? What is it to you if all my love for you is forgotten?’ ‘Aunt! Dear, dear aunt!’ cried Cecilia, ‘you have never spoken to me like this in all your life!’ She threw her arms round Lady Eliza, holding her tightly. For some time they stood clinging to each other without speaking, and the tears in Cecilia’s eyes dropped and fell upon the shoulder that leaned against her; now and then she stroked it softly with her fingers.