'Oh!' she murmured. 'And I did not know his writing. And to think that I am twenty-one, and he is thirty-one; and that I have never had a letter from him before!' Her boxes were packed. She put on her jacket and hat and descended into the breakfast-room, where her mother was already opening her letters and waiting breakfast. 'You are going out, Elsie?' she asked coldly. 'Yes. Hilda told you, I suppose, what she came here for yesterday. In fact, you sent me a message.' 'I hope she delivered it correctly.' 'She said that you would not sanction my wedding while this charge, or suspicion, was hanging over George's head. And that you would not see him until it was withdrawn or cleared away.' 'Certainly. In such a case it would be worse than hypocrisy to receive him with friendliness.' 'Then, like Hilda, you accept the conclusion.' 'I am unable to do anything else. The conclusion seems to me inevitable. If not, let him explain. I hope that no time will be lost in bringing the formal charge. It is foolish kindness--real cruelty--to all concerned to keep such a thing hanging over our heads. I say _our_ heads, not yours only, Elsie, because you know your brother is implicated--perhaps the real contriver--of the dreadful scheme.' 'Would you believe me if I were to tell you that Athelstan _could_ not be implicated?' 'My dear--believe you? Of course, I would believe if I could. Unfortunately, the evidence is too strong.' Elsie sighed. 'Very well; I will say nothing more. You have driven out my lover, as you drove out my brother for the self-same cause, and on the self-same charge. I follow my lover and my brother.' 'Elsie!'--her mother started. 'Do not, I pray you, do anything rash. Remember--a scandal--a whisper even--may be fatal to you hereafter. Sit down and wait. All I ask you to do is to wait.' 'No; I will not wait. If those two are under any cloud of suspicion, I too will sit under the cloud and wait until it lifts. I am going to stay with my brother until my wedding. That is to be on the 12th.' 'No--no--my poor child. There will be no wedding on the 12th.' 'Before that time, everything will be cleared up, and I shall be married from this house, so that I have left all my things, my presents--everything.' Her mother shook her head. 'Try not to think so cruelly of George and of Athelstan, mother. You will be sorry afterwards. Try to believe that though a case may look strange, there may be a way out.' 'I have told you'--her mother was perfectly cold and unmoved--'that I have come to this conclusion on the evidence. If the young man can explain things, let him do so. There will be no wedding on the 12th, Elsie. You can come home as soon as you are convinced that your brother is an improper person for a young lady to live with, and as soon as you have learned the truth about the other young man. That is to say, I will receive you under these distressing circumstances, provided there has been no scandal connected with your name.'