"I am not blaming you, my dear. When I came into the drawing-room that day—do you remember?—what had happened then? Can you bear to tell me?"
She hid her face on his shoulder as she answered, "He was speaking foolishly. I think he wanted to—to kiss me.... I was very glad that you came in."
"Was that the first time?"
"Yes, the first. And I did not even see him again until that Saturday night, when he found me in the study—and——"
"And asked you to run away with him?"
"Yes. Indeed, I had not led him to think that I would do any such thing, father. I told him never to speak to me again. If it had not been for Ethel's sake, I think I should have called someone—but I did not like to make a disturbance."
"No, dear, no. And you—yourself—you did not care for him?"
"Oh no, no, no!"
"It has been a terrible tangle—and the knot has been cut very rudely," said Mr. Brooke, in a musing tone. "Of one thing I am quite certain, we were not fit to have the care of you, Lesley—your aunt and I. You would never have been in this position, my poor child, if we had looked after you."
"It isn't that which troubles me," said Lesley, trying to steady her voice. "It is—that you have to bear the brunt of it all. If it had not been for me you would never have been here. It has been my fault!"