“Were the letter from t’other chap?” asked he at last.
“Yes,” she said.
“It’s a pity ’e burned it,” declared Preston sympathetically. “P’r’aps it might ’ave told ye somethin’ as ye wanted to know.”
“Yes,” assented Bess, “it’s a pity ’e burned it.”
“D’ye think it might ha’ been to tell ye the lad had changed ’is mind?” asked he.
She did not smile. She shook her head.
“No,” she said. “He’s a-comin’ back to fetch me.”
“Oh,” said Preston, “he is, is he? Will yer father stomach it then, d’ye think?”
“I don’t know,” said Bess, looking at him. “But there’ll be some way.”
No misgiving occurred to her in confiding her secret to this new suitor; instinctively she felt he was her best friend.