"Yes. She does so at the risk of starvation."
"But you may ruin two lives, Mallien."
"Pooh! Don't talk rubbish, vicar. I shall do as I like."
"You shall not do as you like," said Leigh steadily. "You are an evil and wicked man, although I am too sinful myself to say so. But I thank God that He has permitted me to live and make reparation for my wrongdoing." The vicar fumbled under his pillow and produced an envelope. "Take this, Hendle, and put it into your pocket. No, don't open it now. When I am dead you can learn how deeply I have sinned. And, above all, don't let Mallien get hold of it."
Rupert slipped the envelope into the pocket of his coat and smiled grimly although he also looked astonished. "I'll take care of that," he said, with a nod; "but what is the paper about?"
"It contains a signed and witnessed confession of my sin."
"Your sin." Mallien began to shake in his shoes as there was something very ominous about these proceedings.
"Yes. I intended evil, and evil has come of my intention. But thank God I am able to nip my wrongdoing in the bud. Mallien"--the vicar shook a reproving forefinger at the man--"I have given you every chance to behave as a Christian should, but you will not seize the opportunity. Now it is too late, and you must abide by your selfish conduct."
"What the devil are you talking about?"
"Hush, father, hush! Don't speak like that," cried Dorinda with a shiver.