“I shall go mad,” she said to herself, “if I stay here alone.”

Even Mr. Bishopriggs felt the necessity of being silent when he stood face to face with her on answering the bell.

“I want to speak to him.  Send him here instantly.”

Mr. Bishopriggs understood her, and withdrew.

Arnold came in.

“Has she gone?” were the first words he said.

“She has gone.  She won’t suspect you when you see her again.  I have told her nothing.  Don’t ask me for my reasons!”

“I have no wish to ask you.”

“Be angry with me, if you like!”

“I have no wish to be angry with you.”

He spoke and looked like an altered man.  Quietly seating himself at the table, he rested his head on his hand—­and so remained silent.  Anne was taken completely by surprise.  She drew near, and looked at him curiously.  Let a woman’s mood be what it may, it is certain to feel the influence of any change for which she is unprepared in the manner of a man—­when that man interests her.  The cause of this is not to be found in the variableness of her humor.  It is far more probably to be traced to the noble abnegation of Self, which is one of the grandest—­and to the credit of woman be it said—­one of the commonest virtues of the sex.  Little by little, the sweet feminine charm of Anne’s face came softly and sadly back.  The inbred nobility of the woman’s nature answered the call which the man had unconsciously made on it.  She touched Arnold on the shoulder.

“This has been hard on you,” she said.  “And I am to blame for it.  Try and forgive me, Mr. Brinkworth.  I am sincerely sorry.  I wish with all my heart I could comfort you!”

“Thank you, Miss Silvester.  It was not a very pleasant feeling, to be hiding from Blanche as if I was afraid of her—­and it’s set me thinking, I suppose, for the first time in my life.  Never mind.  It’s all over now.  Can I do any thing for you?”

“What do you propose doing to-night?”

“What I have proposed doing all along—­my duty by Geoffrey.  I have promised him to see you through your difficulties here, and to provide for your safety till he comes back.  I can only make sure of doing that by keeping up appearances, and staying in the sitting-room to-night.  When we next meet it will be under pleasanter circumstances, I hope.  I shall always be glad to think that I was of some service to you.  In the mean time I shall be most likely away to-morrow morning before you are up.”

Anne held out her hand to take leave.  Nothing could undo what had been done.  The time for warning and remonstrance had passed away.

“You have not befriended an ungrateful woman,” she said.  “The day may yet come, Mr. Brinkworth, when I shall prove it.”

“I hope not, Miss Silvester.  Good-by, and good luck!”

She withdrew into her own room.  Arnold locked the sitting-room door, and stretched himself on the sofa for the night.