“Give you up? Never, Aubrey, till you give me up!” “Then all is safe, my darling. However things look now they can’t hold out for ever. Lies must be found out, and then--in time--you will be able to act for yourself.” “Do you think papa will stand to it like that, Aubrey?” Aubrey shook his head. He did not make any reply. “Tell me. Is it a lie?” she said. He bent down his head upon her hand, kissing it. “Not all,” he said, in an almost inaudible voice. “ I said that--at Cologne----” “I did not understand,” said Bee. “No; it does not matter to me, Aubrey--not so very much; but if you promised----” “I never promised--never! My only thought was to escape----” “Then I can’t think what you have done wrong. Aubrey, is she tall, with dark hair, and beautiful dark eyes, and a way of looking at you as if she would look you through and through?” “Bee!” he said, gripping her fast, as if someone had been about to decoy her away. “And a mouth,” said Bee, “that is very pretty, but looks as if it were cut out of steel? Then, I have seen her. She sat down by me one day in the wood, when I was doing that sketch, and gave me such clever hints, telling me how to finish it, till she made me hate it, don’t you know. Is she horribly clever, and a good artist? and like that----” “Bee! What did that woman say to you?” “Nothing very much. Asked me about the people at the hotel, and if there were any Leighs--not you, she pretended, but the Leighs of Hurst-leigh, whom she knew. I thought it very strange at the time why she should ask about the Leighs without knowing anything--and then I forgot all about it. But to-day it came back to my mind, and I have been thinking of nothing else. Aubrey--she is older than you are?” “Yes,” he said. “And she made you promise to marry her?” said Bee, half unconscious yet half conscious of that wile of the cross-examiner, coming back to the point suddenly. “Never, Bee, never for one moment in my misery! That I should have to make such a confession to you!--but there was no promise nor thought of a promise. I desired nothing--nothing but to escape from her. You don’t doubt my word, Bee?” “No; I don’t doubt anything you say. But I think she is a dreadful woman to get anybody in her power, Aubrey. My little drawing was for you. It was the place we first met, and she told me how to do it and make it look so much better. I am not very clever at it, you know; and then I hated the very sight of it, and tore it in two. I don’t know why.” “I understand why. Bee, you will be faithful to me, whatever you are told?” “Till I die, Aubrey.” “And never, never believe that for a moment my heart will change from you.” “Not till I hear it from yourself,” she said, with a woeful smile. The despair in him communicated itself to her, who had not been despairing at all. “Which will never be--and when you are your own mistress, my darling----”