The man’s face grew deeply livid with rage and disappointment. He fairly struggled to hold himself in check, and Eva started quickly toward the door, eager to escape. At that he started forward, breathing hoarsely and muttering vengefully: “Consider yourself discharged from the hospital, Miss Somerville, on account of being out so late with a young man to-night.” She bowed coldly without replying, and darted from the room, almost falling over Ada Winton in her headlong flight. “Where away so fast, my dear, that you bolt out of the doctor’s office like a shot fired from a cannon?” cried that young lady, catching her around the waist. “Oh, Ada, come to my room and I will tell you all!” Eva sobbed in hysterical excitement. “The villain! To think of insulting you again, after your first decided repulse!” exclaimed the young lady indignantly, when she had heard the piteous story, and she added warmly: “Do not worry yourself, dear, because you are discharged. I have an aunt living in Weston who will receive you as a guest until you are married to your handsome doctor.” “But, oh, Ada, I have no money for anything--neither to pay my board nor to buy a wedding gown,” sobbed the hapless girl. “Aunt Susan will not charge you any board, my little dear, and I will lend you my best white gown for your wedding.” CHAPTER XX. DREAMS OF HAPPINESS. “Oh, what will Doctor Rupert say to my being sent away in disgrace? Ought I to tell him all?” cried Eva anxiously, despairingly. Miss Winton negatived the question vigorously. “No; it would only stir up a scandal and involve your lover in a quarrel. ‘A still tongue makes a wise head,’ little Eva, but there are not many still tongues in this hospital. They are always wagging over other people’s business. So let us try to keep silent, even under wrongs and injuries, as long as possible. For what if we denounced this smooth villain who insults us, believing we cannot resent it, being poor and helpless? Well, he would simply deny the charges and try to villify our characters and make us out great liars, don’t you see?” “Yes, I see, for I know already from a terrible experience how an innocent person may be slandered and discredited,” Eva answered, breaking down suddenly and sobbing in an abandonment of grief over her cruel fate. It all rushed over her freshly again--the tragedy that had blighted her fair name with an indelible stain and exiled her from home, driving her mad with despair. “Oh,” she cried, through raining tears, “I would almost rather die than go through such sorrows again.”