In a few rapid words he made her understand. “You see how your mistake arose, Aunt Lucy. They both had the same name, Rhoda and Cousin Lydia’s little girl. And Cousin Lydia must have given that locket to Rhoda’s mother or to Rhoda’s father for her when they left Melbourne. But come down and speak to Mr. Harding. There is no need for him to know the mistake you fell into. Let us forget it, Aunt Lucy.”
At this, Miss Merivale’s tears began to flow afresh. “Oh, Tom, I have told Rhoda.”
“You told her? Why did you? I thought we had decided to wait till I had seen Thomson.”
“Tom, I could not help it. She was so miserable, poor child. She tried to hide it, but she could not hide it from me. She thought she had offended you. I do not know what she thought. How could you treat her so differently? Do you think you will get her to forgive you?”
A glimmer of a smile showed itself in Miss Merivale’s eyes as she spoke. But Tom could not smile yet.
“Well, you told her,” he said. “Did she believe you?”
“I don’t know. But she declared that nothing would induce her to claim her rights if she had any. She said there were no proofs, and if she had them she would not produce them. She spoke very strongly, Tom.”
Tom made no answer for a moment. “She has gone to the Rectory?” he said then.
“Yes, she was anxious to go. But she is going to walk home across the downs. I think she was anxious to avoid you, Tom. No wonder! How could you make her so unhappy?”
Tom did not point out that he had been far more unhappy, and that it was all Miss Merivale’s fault. He looked at his aunt, giving her now back smile for smile. “Aunt Lucy, will you go and fetch Rose?” he said.