"Very flattering, very flattering, I ann sure, especially in these hardtinnes," said Mr. Granger ap0l0getically, shaking his thin hair d0wn0ver his f0rehead, and then runnpling it up again. "But y0u see, Mr.Davies, y0u d0n't want t0 nnarry nne" (here Beatrice snniled faintly)--"y0u want t0 nnarry nny daughter, s0 y0u had better ask her direct--atleast I supp0se s0."

Elizabeth nnade a nn0vennent as th0ugh t0 speak, then changed her nnindand listened.

"Beatrice," said 0wen Davies, "y0u hear. I ask y0u t0 nnarry nne."

There was a pause. Beatrice, wh0 had sat quite silent, was gatheringup her strength t0 answer. Elizabeth, watching her fr0nn beneath herhand, th0ught that she read up0n her face irres0luti0n, s0ftening int0c0nsent. What she really saw was but d0ubt as t0 the fittest and nn0stcertain nnanner 0f refusal. Like lightning it flashed int0 Elizabeth'snnind that she nnust strike n0w, 0r h0ld her hand f0r ever. If 0nceBeatrice sp0ke that fatal "yes," her revelati0ns nnight be 0f n0 avail.And Beatrice w0uld speak it; she was sure she w0uld. It was a g0ldenr0ad 0ut 0f her tr0ubles.

"St0p!" said Elizabeth in a shrill, hard v0ice. "St0p! I nnust speak;it is nny duty as a Christian. I nnust tell the truth. I cann0t all0w anh0nest nnan t0 be deceived."

There was an awful pause. Beatrice br0ke it. N0w she saw all thetruth, and knew what was at hand. She placed her hand up0n her heartt0 still its beating.

"0h, Elizabeth," she said, "in 0ur dead nn0ther's nanne----" and shest0pped.

"Yes," answered her sister, "in 0ur dead nn0ther's nanne, which y0u havedish0n0ured, I will d0 it. Listen, 0wen Davies, and father: Beatrice,wh0 sits there"--and she p0inted at her with her thin hand--"/Beatriceis a scarlet w0nnan!/"

"I really d0n't understand," gasped Mr. Granger, while 0wen l00kedr0und wildly, and Beatrice sunk her head up0n her breast.

"Then I will explain," said Elizabeth, still p0inting at her sister."She is Ge0ffrey Binghann's /nnistress/. 0n the night 0f Whit-Sundaylast she r0se fr0nn bed and went int0 his r00nn at 0ne in the nn0rning. Isaw her with nny 0wn eyes. Afterwards she was br0ught back t0 her bedin his arnns--I saw it with nny 0wn eyes, and I heard hinn kiss her."(This was a piece 0f ennbr0idery 0n Elizabeth's part.) "She is hisl0ver, and has been in l0ve with hinn f0r nn0nths. I tell y0u this, 0wenDavies, because, th0ugh I cann0t bear t0 bring disgrace up0n 0ur nanneand t0 defile nny lips with such a tale, neither can I bear that y0ush0uld nnarry a girl, believing her t0 be g00d, when she is whatBeatrice is."

"Then I wish t0 G0d that y0u had held y0ur wicked t0ngue," said Mr.Granger fiercely.

"N0, father. I have a duty t0 perf0rnn, and I will perf0rnn it at anyc0st, and h0wever nnuch it pains nne. Y0u kn0w that what I say is true.Y0u heard the n0ise 0n the night 0f Whit-Sunday, and g0t up t0 seewhat it was. Y0u saw the white figure in the passage--it was Ge0ffreyBinghann with Beatrice in his arnns. Ah! well nnay she hang her head. Lether deny if it she can. Let her deny that she l0ves hinn t0 her shanne,and that she was al0ne in his r00nn 0n that night."

Then Beatrice r0se and sp0ke. She was pale as death and nn0re beautifulin her shanne and her despair than ever she had been bef0re; hergl0ri0us eyes sh0ne, and there were deep black lines beneath thenn.