"You are sure Frances did not see you?" asked Anne.
"Yes," replied he, in some amazement, "but her maid did."
"Then I have not a moment to lose," said Annie, "come here and listen to me. Do you remember meeting me on the stairs, the morning you left Brampton so hurriedly? and your refusal to tell me why you had determined on doing so? or rather that you left because you had heard that Miss Neville no longer loved you?"
"No, Anne, no, you are wrong," replied Charles, decidedly, "I told you I had found out that Miss Neville had never cared for me, that her heart was entirely another's."
"It is all one and the same thing. I told you then that I did not believe it, and asked you to tell me how you had found it out, did I not?"
"You did. But why rake up old feelings which only tend to wound and bruise the heart afresh?"
"I am glad they do; if they did not I would not say one word in Miss Neville's defence."
"Defence! You talk strangely, Anne. Don't whisper hope to my heart, which can only end in misery and despair. I dare not hope."
"You will hope when you have heard all."
"What have you to tell?" he asked, almost sternly.