In the course of the morning Mr. Du Brant strolled in the eastern parts of the grounds, and Mr. Locker strolled over that portion of the lawn which lay to the west. Mr. Du Brant did not meet with any one with whom he cared to talk, but Mr. Locker was fortunate enough to meet Miss Raleigh.
"I am glad to see you," said he; "you are the person above all other persons I wish to talk to."
"It delights me to hear that," said the lady, her face showing that she spoke the truth.
"Let us go over there and sit down," said he. "Now, then," he continued, "you were present, Miss Raleigh, at a very peculiar moment in my life, a momentous moment, I may say. You enjoyed a privilege—if you consider it such—not vouchsafed to many mortals."
"I did consider it a privilege, you may be sure," exclaimed Miss Raleigh, "and I value it. You do not know how highly I value it!"
"You heard me offer myself, body and soul, to the lady I loved. You were taken into our confidence, you saw me laid upon the table—"
"Oh, dreadful!" cried the lady. "Don't put it that way."
"Well, then," said he, "you saw me postponed for future consideration. You promised you would regard everything you heard as confidential; by so doing you enabled me to speak when otherwise I might not have dared to do so. I am deeply grateful to you; and, as you already know so much about my hopes and my aspirations, I think it right you should know all there is to know."
The conscience of Miss Raleigh stirred itself very vigorously within her, and her voice was much subdued as she said:
"I am sure you are very good."