Mrs. Keith burst into a ringing laugh. “Know it? You are amazing! Hadn’t I better telegraph?” Roger stared and frowned. “Does he suspect it, then?” Mrs. Keith rolled up her eyes. “Come,” she said, “we must begin at the beginning. When you speak of your cousin, you open up a gulf. There is not much in it, it’s true; but it’s a gulf. Your cousin is a humbug,—neither more nor less. Allow me; I know what I say. He knew, of course, of your plans for Nora!” Roger nodded. “Of course he did! He took his chance, therefore, while you were well out of the way. He lost no time, and if Nora is in love with him, he can tell you why. He knew that he could not marry her, that he should not, that he would not. But he made love to her, to pass the time. Happily, it passed soon. I had of course to be cautious; but as soon as I saw how things were going, I spoke, and spoke to the point. Though he’s a humbug, he is not a fool; that was all he needed. He made his excuses, such as they were! I shall know in future what to think of him.” Roger shook his head mournfully. “I am afraid it’s not to be so easily settled. As you say, Hubert’s a gulf. I never sounded it. The fact remains that they love each other. It’s hard, but it’s fatal.” Mrs. Keith lost patience. “Don’t try the heroic; you will break down,” she cried. “You are the best of men, but after all you are human. To begin with, Hubert doesn’t love her. He loves no one but himself. Nora must find her happiness where women as good have found it before this, in a sound, sensible marriage. She cannot marry Hubert; he is engaged to another person. Yes, I have the facts; a young girl in New York with whom he has been off and on for a couple of years, but who holds him to his bargain. I wish her joy of it! He is not to be pitied; she is not Nora, but she is extremely fond of him, and she is to have money. So good by to Hubert. As for you, cut the knot! She’s a bit sentimental just now; but one sentiment, at that age, is as good as another. And, my dear man, the girl has a conscience, it’s to be hoped; give her a chance to show it. A word to the wise!” Thus exhorted, Roger determined to act. The next day was a Sunday. While the ladies were at church he took up his position in their drawing-room. Nora came in alone; Mrs. Keith had made a pretext for ascending to her own room, where she waited with some solemnity. “I am glad to find you,” Nora said. “I have been wanting particularly to speak to you. Is my probation not over? May not I now come back?” “It’s about that,” he answered, “that I came to talk to you. The probation has been mine. Has it lasted long enough? Do you love me yet? Come back to me,—come back to me as my wife.” She looked at him, as he spoke, with a clear, unfrightened gaze, and, with his last words, broke frankly into a laugh. But as his own face was intensely grave, a gradual blush arrested her laugh. “Your wife, Roger?” she asked gently.