"Why, for Mr. Ashby to come bothering me just now."
Harry said nothing, and they both relapsed once more into silence.
The harder task was before Harry. There were two for him to face. One, the friend to whom he had been traitor; the other, his betrothed, to whom he had been false. Of these two the latter was by far the worse. He had faced Ashby already, and could face him again, as a mortal enemy, to fight a mortal battle; but Talbot! Ah! with what eyes could he look upon that pure and noble face? with what words could he address her?
Katie's thoughts seemed to be running in that channel which Harry was using for his own; for she suddenly looked at him with earnest scrutiny, and said, abruptly,
"But you are as bad."
"As bad?"
"As bad as me."
Harry sighed.
"Mr. Ashby," said Katie, innocently, "will want to see you too, you know."
"Of course," said Harry.