Rachel and Hugh were sitting together looking at a paragraph in the Morning Post.
"Does Miss Gresley take any interest?" said Hugh.
He was a little jealous of Hester. This illness, the cause of which had sincerely grieved him, had come at an inopportune moment. Hester was always taking Rachel from him.
"Yes," said Rachel, "a little when she remembers. But she can only think of one thing."
"That unhappy book."
"Yes. I think the book was to Hester something of what you are to me. Her whole heart was wrapped up in it—and she has lost it. Hugh, whatever happens, you must not be lost now. It is too late. I could not bear it."
"I can only be lost if you throw me away," said Hugh.
There was a long silence.
"Lady Newhaven will know to-day," said Rachel at last. "I tried to break it to her, but she did not believe me."
"Rachel," said Hugh, stammering, "I meant to tell you the other day, only we were interrupted, that she came to my rooms the evening before I came down here. I should not have minded quite so much, but Captain Pratt came in with me and—found her there."