The Last Trial

"Mr. Gray!" she exclaimed, "why have you delayed my message? If you knew
all, you would know that it is far from being a kindness to me to keep
me in this house."

He advanced closer to her--surprised by her words, alarmed by her looks.

"Has any one been here in my absence?" he asked.

"Lady Janet has been here in your absence. I can't speak of it--my heart
feels crushed--I can bear no more. Let me go!"

Briefly as she had replied, she had said enough. Julian's knowledge
of Lady Janet's character told him what had happened. His face showed
plainly that he was disappointed as well as distressed.

"I had hoped to have been with you when you and my aunt met, and to have
prevented this," he said. "Believe me, she will atone for all that she
may have harshly and hastily done when she has had time to think. Try
not to regret it, if she has made your hard sacrifice harder still. She
has only raised you the higher--she has additionally ennobled you and
endeared you in my estimation. Forgive me if I own this in plain words.
I cannot control myself--I feel too strongly."

At other times Mercy might have heard the coming avowal in his tones,
might have discovered it in his eyes. As it was, her delicate insight
was dulled, her fine perception was blunted. She held out her hand to
him, feeling a vague conviction that he was kinder to her than ever--and
feeling no more.