“Yes, I’m afraid there is.” The moment he had spoken the words he wished them unuttered. The light faded out of the beautiful eyes, and a pathetic sadness took its place. “Oh, please don’t tell me that!” she pleaded. “I am enjoying myself so much this evening.” “Are you? I am glad of that,” said Mauleverer, tugging uneasily at his mustache. “Yes; I have never been to a place like this before, you know, and it is all so strange and beautiful. I am a little bit afraid of the Marchioness of Severn, but every one else has been so kind that I haven’t felt myself a stranger. I feel almost like the little chimney-sweep who wandered by accident into the state bedroom of the castle, and turned out to be the rightful heir. Please don’t send me back to my chimney.” The captain swallowed something in his throat. “I wish I hadn’t promised to, but the fact is I have undertaken to give you a message.” This time Belle turned to him with a look of something like alarm. “Can’t you put it off till to-morrow? Do let me have my dream out to-night.” Mauleverer shook himself. “Hang it! I have a great mind to,” he exclaimed. “Please do, if it is an unkind message. I didn’t think I had any enemies.” “You have none--at least, I don’t believe you have. It isn’t that. What I have promised to tell you is something about yourself, something you ought to know.” “Something about myself! Oh, what do you mean? I haven’t been doing anything wrong, have I?” Captain Mauleverer bit his lip and looked more than half inclined to run away. Then he said, slowly: “Perhaps I should have said--something about your father.” “My father!” She gazed at him in astonishment. “But he is dead! He died before I was born.” “No!” The answer struck her dumb. She sat still and pressed her hand against her heart. The man replied to her unspoken questions with a grave shake of the head. “My father is not dead? Oh, Captain Mauleverer, what are you saying? What do you know about him?” “I wish I didn’t have to speak to you like this. Your father is alive.” “And they have always told me he was dead! My mother-- Captain Mauleverer, are you _sure_ of what you say?” “I am. I know your father.” “Then why--” She broke off in the midst of the question and wrung her hands. “Ah! I begin to understand. My father has done something that has made them hide his existence from me. And you are going to tell me what it is.” “I--well, I promised that I would.” She gave a half-sob. “You may go on now. I find that I am only the little chimney-sweeper after all. But stay!” A fresh thought struck her with overwhelming force. “Perhaps this is some mistake after all. You say my father is alive, but did you know that my mother had been married again?” The captain clenched his fists. “God forgive me--I _can’t_ tell you!”