Arthur pressed his hands to his temples; all sorts of confused thoughts were fighting together within his breast.
"Did Mrs. Cumberland know of this?" he asked.
"I cannot say. Her husband did. At the time it all happened, Mrs. Cumberland was away in ill-health. I should think she would hear it from her husband afterwards."
"Then--how could she encourage me to enter into this contract with Miss Adair?" returned Arthur, in a flash of resentment.
"You must never see her again, Arthur; you must never see her again. Go abroad for a time if need be: it may be the better plan."
"What am I to say to them?" he cried in self-commune. "After all, Ellen is not responsible for her father's sins."
A spasm caught madam. Was this information not sufficient?--would he carry out the marriage yet?
"Arthur, there's worse behind," she breathed. "Why can't you be satisfied?--why do you force me to tell you all?--I would have spared you the rest."
"What rest?" he asked, his lips turning white.
"About that man--William Adair."