"So do I," said Miss Cassewary. "If it is an accident—"
"Of course it is an accident," said Tregear angrily,—looking round at Mary, who blushed up to her eyes.
"I did not mean to doubt it," said the old lady. "But as it has occurred, Mabel, don't you think that he had better go?"
"He won't bite anybody, Miss Cass."
"She would not have come if she had expected it," said Silverbridge.
"Certainly not," said Mary, speaking for the first time. "But now he is here—" Then she stopped herself, rose from the sofa, sat down, and then rising again, stepped up to her lover, who rose at the same moment,—and threw herself into his arms and put up her lips to be kissed.
"This won't do at all," said Silverbridge. Miss Cassewary clasped her hands together and looked up to heaven. She probably had never seen such a thing done before. Lady Mabel's eyes were filled with tears, and though in all this there was much to cause her anguish, still in her heart of hearts she admired the brave girl who could thus show her truth to her lover.
"Now go," said Mary, through her sobs.
"My own one," ejaculated Tregear.
"Yes, yes, yes; always your own. Go,—go; go." She was weeping and sobbing as she said this, and hiding her face with her handkerchief. He stood for a moment irresolute, and then left the room without a word of adieu to any one.