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 it in good part. 'She is dearest,' he said; 'and be sure of this, that she will be true to you through it all.'

And so they stood for a while without further speech. He still held both her hands, and the tears still stood in his eyes. Her eyes were turned to the ground, and from them the tears were running fast. At first they ran silently, without audible sobbing, and Sir Peregrine, with his own old eyes full of salt water, hardly knew that she was weeping. But gradually the drops fell upon his hand, one by one at first, and then faster and faster; and soon there came a low sob, a sob all but suppressed, but which at last forced itself forth, and then her head fell upon his shoulder. 'My dear,' he said, himself hardly able to speak; 'my poor dear, my ill-used dear!' and as she withdrew one hand from his, that she might press a handkerchief to her face, his vacant arm passed itself round her waist. 'My poor, ill-used dear!' he said again, as he pressed her to his old heart, and leaning over her he kissed her lips.

So she stood for some few seconds, feeling that she was pressed close by the feeble pressure of his arm, and then she gradually sank through from his embrace, and fell upon her knees at his feet. She knelt at his feet, supporting herself with one arm upon the table, and with the other hand she still held his hand over which her head was bowed. 'My friend,' she said, still sobbing, and sobbing loudly now; 'my friend, that God has sent me in my trouble.' And then, with words that were wholly inaudible, she murmured some prayer on his behalf.

'I am better now,' she said, raising herself quickly to her feet when a few seconds had passed. 'I am better now,' and she stood erect before him. 'By God's mercy I will endure it; I think I can endure it now.'

'If I can lighten the load—'

'You have lightened it—of half its weight; but, Sir Peregine, I will leave this—'

'Leave this! go away from The Cleeve!'

'Yes; I will not destroy the comfort of your home by the wretchedness of my position. I will not—'

'Lady Mason, my house is altogether at your service. If you will be led by me in this matter, you will not leave it till this cloud shall have passed by you. You will be better to be alone now;' and then before she could answer him further, he led her to the door. She felt that it was better for her to be alone, and she hastened up the stairs to her own chamber.

'And why should I not?' said Sir Peregrine to himself, as he again walked the length of the library.