"Do you really think so, Miss Torrington? What do you say, Helen? do you believe this to have been the case?" "He is very often at the Park," replied Helen. "But do you think it possible that Mrs. Mowbray would communicate to him what she would conceal from you?" said Colonel Harrington. This question was also left unanswered by Helen; but Rosalind again undertook to reply. "You will think me a very interfering person, I am afraid, Colonel Harrington," said she; "but many feelings keep Helen silent which do not influence me; and, as far as I am capable of judging, it is extremely proper, and perhaps important, that Sir Gilbert should know that this holy vicar never passes a day without finding or making an excuse for calling at the Park. I can hardly tell how it is, but it certainly does happen, that these visits generally take place when we--that is, Helen and I--are not in the house; but ... to confess my sins, and make a clear breast at once, I will tell you what I have never yet told Helen, and that is, that I have ordered my maid to find out, if she can, when Mr. Cartwright comes. He slipped in, however, through the library window twice yesterday, so it is possible that he may sometimes make good an entry without being observed; for it is impossible that my Judy can be always on the watch, though she is so fond of performing her needlework in that pretty trellised summer-house in the Park." "What an excellent vidette you would make, Miss Torrington," said the young man, laughing. "But will you tell me, sincerely, and without any shadow of jesting, why it is that you have been so anxious to watch the movements of this reverend gentleman?" "If I talk on the subject at all," she replied, "it will certainly be without any propensity to jesting; for I have seldom felt less inclined to be merry than while watching the increasing influence of Mr. Cartwright over Mrs. Mowbray and Fanny. It was because I remarked that they never mentioned his having called, when I knew he had been there, that I grew anxious to learn, if possible, how constant his visits had become; and the result of my _espionage_ is, that no day passes without a visit." "But what makes you speak of this as of an evil, Miss Torrington?" "That is more than I have promised to tell you," replied Rosalind; "but, as we _have_ become so very confidential, I have no objection to tell you all--and that, remember, for the especial use of Sir Gilbert, who perhaps, if he knew all that I guess, would _not_ think he was doing right to leave Mrs. Mowbray in such hands." "And what then, Miss Torrington, is there, _as you guess_, against this gentleman?"