"Ha! and you say the tie that binds you to him is hateful?" whispered the strange woman, while she studied Edith's face with mingled wonder and curiosity.
"More hateful than I can express," said Edith, with incisive bitterness.
"And you do not—love him?"
"Love him? Oh, no!"
The tone was too replete with aversion to be doubted.
"Ah, it is I who do not understand now!" exclaimed Edith's visitor, with a look of perplexity.
"Let me tell you," said the young girl, drawing nearer and speaking rapidly. "I was Mrs. Goddard's companion, and quite happy and content with my work until he—her villainous brother—came. Ah, perhaps I shall wound you if I say more," she interposed, and breaking off suddenly, as she saw her companion wince.
"No, no; go on," commanded her guest, imperatively.
"Well, Monsieur Correlli began to make love to me and to persecute me with his attentions soon after he came here. He proposed marriage to me some weeks ago, and I refused to listen to him—"
"You refused him!"