"And what is he doing?"
"Collecting such evidence against Todd, that at a moment the law will be enabled to come upon him with a certainty that by no ingenious quibble can he escape."
Johanna shuddered.
"I thank you, sir, from my heart," she said, "for all the kindness and—and—I need not again trespass upon your time or your patience."
"Ah, Miss Oakley, will you deny me your friendship?"
"Oh, no—no."
"Then why deny me the privilege of a friend to see you sometimes. If I cannot say to you anything positively of a consoling character regarding him whom you so much regret, I can at least share your sorrows, and sympathise with your feelings."
Johanna was silent, but after a few moments she began to feel that she was acting both with harshness and injustice towards one who had been all that the kindest and most generous friend could be to her. She held out her hand to the colonel, saying—
"Yes, sir, I shall be always happy to see you."
The colonel pressed her hand in his, and then turning to Arabella Wilmot, they parted at the garden.