What was she now to say to Lily and Lily’s mother?  Of one thing there was no doubt.  She would never tell them of her lover’s wicked audacity.  That was a secret never to be imparted to any ears.  She would keep her resentment to herself, and not ask the protection of any vicarious wrath.  He could never so sin again, that was certain; and she would keep all her knowledge and memory of the sin for her own purposes.  But how could it be that such a man as that, one so good though so sinful, so glorious though so great a trespasser, should have come to such a girl as her and have asked for her love?  Then she thought of her father’s poverty and the misery of her own condition, and declared to herself that it was very wonderful.

Lily was the first to enter the room, and she, before she did so, learned from the servant that Major Grantly had left the house.  ’I heard the door, miss, and then I saw the top of his hat out of the pantry window.’  Armed with this certain information, Lily entered the drawing-room, and found Grace in the act of rising from the sofa.

‘Am I disturbing you,’ said Lily.

‘No; not at all.  I am glad you have come.  Kiss me, and be good to me.’  And she twined her arms about Lily and embraced her.

‘Am I not always good to you, you simpleton?  Has he been good?’

‘I don’t know what you mean?’

‘And have you been good to him?’

‘As good as I knew how, Lily.’

‘And where is he?’

‘He has gone away.  I shall never see him any more, Lily.’

Then she hid her face upon her friend’s shoulder and broke forth again into hysterical tears.

‘But tell me, Grace, what he said;—­that is, if you mean to tell me!’

‘I will tell you everything;—­that is, everything I can.’  And Grace blushed as she thought of the one secret which she certainly would not tell.

’Has he—­has he done what I said he would do?  Come, speak out boldly.  Has he asked you to be his wife?’

‘Yes,’ said Grace, barely whispering the word.

‘And you have accepted him?’

’No, Lily, I have not.  Indeed, I have not.  I did not know how to speak, because I was surprised;—­and he, of course, could say what he liked.  But I told him as well as I could, that I would not marry him.’

‘And why;—­did you tell him why?’

‘Yes; because of papa!’

’Then, if he is the man I take him to be, that answer will go for nothing.  Of course he knew all that before he came here.  He did not think you were an heiress with forty thousand pounds.  If he is in earnest, that will go for nothing.  And I think he is in earnest.’

‘And so was I in earnest.’

‘Well, Grace;—­we shall see.’

‘I suppose I may have a will of my own, Lily.’

’Do not be sure of that.  Women are not allowed to have wills of their own on all occasions.  Some man comes in a girl’s way, and she gets to be fond of him, just because he does come in her way.  Well; when that has taken place, she has no alternative but to be taken if he chooses to take her; or to be left, if he chooses to leave her.’