“Where have I been? Up on the cliffs, wandering about among the rocks, and hiding till it grew dark and I could come home. And why did I come home like this? You know. Of course you have heard.”
“Mr Leslie came, and—”
“Mr Leslie!” cried Harry with a mocking laugh. “Save us from our friends.”
Louise’s sympathy swung round on the instant to the side of the attacked; and, hardly knowing what she said—
“Mr Leslie came to bear some terrible news, and to offer to help you.”
“To help me!” cried Harry, with the eagerness of him who catches at straws. “And you—what did you say?”
“I said the information was false—a miserable invention. And I repeat it. Harry, it is not true?”
He made no reply for a few moments, while, sobbing and terrified, Louise clung to him.
“Harry,” she said excitedly, “why do you not speak?”
“Don’t talk to me,” he said hoarsely, “I’m thinking.”