She paused here—­perhaps to give him an opportunity of signifying his assent.  But he refused to do that.  He uttered not a word.  It was for her to say what was in her mind—­if she wished to be released.

“I am quite sure that even now, even after what I have just told you,” she continued, “you would be willing to keep your word.  But—­but would it be wise?  Just think.  Esteem and regard and respect there would always be between us, I hope; but—­but is that enough?  Of course you may tell me that as you are willing to fulfil your part of the engagement, so I should be on my side; and I don’t say that I am not; if you challenged me and could convince me that your happiness depended on it, you would see whether I would draw back.  But you have heard me so far without a word of protest.  I have not wounded you.  Perhaps you will be as glad to be free as I shall be—­I don’t mean glad, Lionel,” she hastily put in, “except in the sense of being free from an obligation that might prove disastrous to both of us.  Now, Lionel, what do you say?  You see I have been quite candid; and I hope you won’t think I have spoken out of any unkindness or ill-feeling.”

He answered her at last,

“I agree with every word you have said.”

A quick flush swept across Miss Burgoyne’s forehead; but probably he could not have told what that meant, even if he had been looking; and he was not.

“I hope you won’t think me unkind,” she repeated.  “I am sure it will be better for both of us to have that tie broken.  If I had not thought that it would be as grateful to you as to me to be released, be sure I would not have come and spoken to you while you were lying on a sick-bed.  Now, I promised Mr. Mangan not to talk too much nor to agitate you,” said she, as she rose, and smoothed her sun-shade, and made ready to depart.  “I hope you will get strong and well very soon; and that you will come back to the New Theatre with your voice as splendid as ever.”  But still she lingered a little.  She felt that her immediate departure might seem too abrupt; it would look as if she had secured the object of her visit, and was therefore ready to run away at once.  So she chatted a little further, and looked at the photographs on the wall; and again she hoped he would be well soon and back at the theatre.  At last she said, “Well, good-bye.”  Gave him her gloved hand for a second; then she went out and was joined by her brother.  Mangan saw them both down-stairs, and returned to Lionel’s room.

“Had her ladyship any important communication to make?” he asked, in his careless way.

“She proposed that our engagement should be broken off—­and I consented,” said Lionel, simply.

Mangan, who was going to the window, suddenly stood stock-still and stared, as if he had not heard aright.

“And it is broken off?” he exclaimed.

“Yes.”

There was a dead silence.  Presently Maurice said,