“That’s the pity of it. I can’t tell you anything specifically very bad of him, other than that no one has anything good to say—of whom never a warm word is uttered. I do not say he has disgraced himself openly—he has not.”

“I assure you, major Marvel, he is a man of uncommon gifts and—”

“Great attractions, no doubt—to me invisible,” blurted the major.

Hester turned from him.

“I am going home,” she said. “Luncheon is at the usual hour.”

“Just one word more,” he begged hurrying after her. “I swear I have no purpose in interfering but to save you from a miserable future. Promise me not to marry this man and I will settle on you a thousand pounds a year.”

At those words she turned on him with a glance of contempt. But there were tears in her eyes and her heart smote her. Though he had abused her friend he was plainly being honest. Her countenance softened as she looked at him. She stopped and he came up to her. She laid her hand on his arm.

“Dear major Marvel,” she said, “I will speak to you without anger. What would you think of one who took money to do the thing she ought or ought not to do? Such a promise I cannot give, whether it be an earl or a beggar. How am I to know the will of God for the remainder of my life?”

“Yes, yes, my dear! You are quite right—absolutely right,” the major agreed humbly. “I only wanted to make you financially independent. But will you have liberty otherwise? Will your father settle any of his estate upon you?”

“I don’t know. I have never thought about anything of the kind.”

“How could they let you go about with him so much and never ask what he meant by it?”

“They could easier have asked me what I meant by it. Would you have them shut me up and make my life miserable to make it safe? If a woman has any sense, major Marvel, she can take care of herself. If she has not, she must learn the need of it.”

“Ah!” said the major sadly, “but the thousand pangs and aches and heart-sickenings. I would sooner see my child dead with a husband she loved than living a merry life with one she did not.”

Hester began to feel she had not been doing the major justice.

“So would I!” she said heartily. “You mean me well, and I shall not forget how kind you have been. Now, let us go back.”

“Just one thing more: if you ever think I can help you, you will let me know?”

“That I promise with all my heart,” she answered. “I mean if it be a thing I think it right to trouble you about.”

The major’s face fell.