“Yes.”
“Then that is all settled. I will rejoin you in a few minutes; I wish to tell my news to my uncle’s widow, and, Mr. Webster, I may depend on your honor, I am sure, to keep all this a secret.”
“You may quite depend upon me,” answered Webster, a little bitterly.
After this John Temple left the room, and went straight to the morning-room, where he expected to find Mrs. Temple. She was there, looking pale and agitated, and she went forward quickly to meet him.
“Who is that gentleman, John?” she said. “I have been feeling quite anxious.”
“He has brought me strange news, Rachel,” answered John Temple, gravely. He called her now by her Christian name, as she had expressed a wish that he should do so.
“Strange news?” she repeated, and her face grew paler.
“Yes; May is alive—and—”
“Then what will you do?” asked the agitated woman before him, almost with a gasp.