"I expected to see you more exhausted, after the trying scenes through which you have passed," he said gently. "I am pleased to see you looking so well."
"Edith and the rest have been trying to persuade me that I was in a fit state for rapid decline, or nervous prostration," she answered, with an attempt at lightness. "It is quite a relief to hear you say to the contrary."
"Not at all. I never saw you look better."
"I am sorry that I cannot say the same for you. You seem harrassed, haggard. Tell me, will you not, how things are going? I have been so anxious to know; but no one knew, or if they did, refused to tell me."
"It has distressed me! I never knew how few friends I had until now. I cannot procure the amount of bail required for—Evelyn, and surely you know what the result of that will be. She is in the Tombs in a state of mind bordering upon insanity. I know that I should not tell you this, and yet, you may be able to help me. The men whom I have accounted my friends refuse to go on the bond for me, saying that she would but escape, and I should be left with an amount to pay that would ruin me, as, of course, I have offered to make the amount good in the event of an accident. Even Mr. Pryor swears at me when I insist upon it that he must do as I say. But if you would speak to him the effect might be different."
"It is so good of you to take this interest in her. If there is anything that I can do, you may be sure that I will with all my heart. Oh, Lynde, I tried so hard to spare her. I entreated her to see the condition in which she was placing herself, but she would not. Why, upon the night that we were all arrested, I told her of the papers that were in my possession—papers that I had no wish should ever come before the public. I did not even ask her to resign her position as the daughter of Leonard Chandler, but I could not see her become your wife knowing that she was a—— I cannot say the word. The thought of it is hideous to me!"
"But it has not released me from my promise, Leonie."
"What! You would not marry her now?"
"I must."
"You are mad!"