Once or twice he seemed about to speak to her, but checked himself abruptly and waited.
Kathleen, as soon as he had finished the letter, cried out, eagerly:
"Do you not see that I was wrong to judge him so hardly?"
Uncle Ben looked gravely into his niece's face and answered, almost sternly:
"No; you were right, for appearances were against him."
"But, dear Uncle Ben, all that is explained away now, and I know that I was wrong not to trust my lover," cried the girl, anxiously.
But he answered, firmly:
"You must not call that actor your lover. You are betrothed to Mr. Darrell."
"But Teddy will release me if I ask him."
"Would you wound your true lover so cruelly?" asked the old man, almost angrily.