"I will tell you all, dearest Reginald," answered Cecilia. "The evening after I received your cruel note desiring that all might end between us, I was going out with the intention of calling upon you—yes, of throwing myself at your feet——"
"Imprudent Cecilia!" murmured the rector, imprinting a kiss upon her lips.
"Yes—I was on the point of leaving my own abode to seek yours," continued Cecilia, "when I heard a hoarse and ominous voice muttering behind me. I looked round, and perceived that old wretch. She smiled—or rather, leered significantly, and said, 'Happy, happy lady—to enjoy the rector of Saint David's love!'"
"She said that!" cried Reginald. "How could she divine what passed between us?"
"She has since explained to me how she one evening saw you leave my house—with a certain wildness in your manner——"
"True! true!" ejaculated the rector; "and the mind of the old woman being perhaps naturally evil, she conceived evil of others on the faintest suspicion."
"Exactly," answered Cecilia. "When she accosted me in that manner, I was so wretched, so miserable at the idea of being separated from you——"
"Sweetest creature! I was, indeed, ungrateful in return for so much love!"
"I was so unhappy that I was even glad to speak of thee to such a wretch as that old creature. Then she uttered words of consolation, and we talked together—talked for an hour in the cold, damp street——"
"Poor Cecilia!" murmured Reginald.