There was no reply, and Sartwell, looking up, saw Edna, standing with pallid cheeks and lips parted, swaying slightly from side to side. He sprang up, and supported her with his arm. “My girl, my little girl!” he cried. “What is the matter? What is this to you?” Her head sank against his breast, and she said in a quavering whisper, broken by a sob: “It is everything to me, father, everything!” He patted her affectionately on the shoulder. “Is it so, my darling, is it so? I was afraid once that was the case, but I thought you had forgotten. There, don’t cry; it is sure to be all right. The papers generally exaggerate these things. Come, let us have breakfast, and we will both go to the hospital together.” Edna’s desire for breakfast was gone, but she made a pretense of eating and then hurried to get ready and accompany her father. It was so early that they had a first-class compartment to themselves, the travel city-wards not having begun for the day. Edna was silent, and nothing had been said from the house to the station. When they were in the train, her father spoke with some hesitation. “Edna, have you seen Marsten since the time when I found you together in the garden?” “Yes, father; twice.” “I don’t want you to answer, my dear, unless you care to do so. Where did you meet him?” “I will tell you everything; I was willing to tell you any time----if you had asked me. I didn’t speak of him to you because----I didn’t like to.” “Of course, girlie. I understand. You needn’t speak now, if you would rather not.” “I should like you to know. The first time was at Eastbourne, shortly after I went there. He managed to get unseen into the school garden, and he told me that----he said he hoped----we would be married some day. I told him it was impossible. I thought so----then.” “That was two years ago?” “Yes.” The ghost of a smile hovered about the firm lips of Sartwell; but the corners of Edna’s mouth drooped pathetically, and she seemed on the verge of tears. She kept her eyes on the floor of the carriage. “There was not much use of an angry father’s precautions, was there, Edna?” “I did not know, until he spoke, that you objected to my meeting him. If you had told me, I would not have spoken to him at Eastbourne.” “Of course you wouldn’t, my dear. Don’t think I am blaming you in the least. I was merely thinking that I am not nearly as far-seeing as I thought. And the second time, Edna?” “That was last night. I drove to the Salvation Hall and asked him to stop the strike. I told him-----” Edna began to cry afresh. Her father, who had been sitting opposite her, crossed to her side, and put his arm about her. “Don’t say another word, my dear, and don’t think about it. I’ll not ask you another question. You mustn’t make people think you have been crying. They will imagine I have been scolding you, and thus you will destroy my well-won reputation for being the mildest man in London.”