The New Magdalen

He paused--leaving Mercy time to compose herself, if she wished to speak

to him.

She felt that there was a necessity for her speaking to him. He was

plainly not aware that Lady Janet had already written to her to defer

her promised explanation. This circumstance was in itself a confirmation

of the opinion which he had expressed. She ought to mention it to him;

she tried to mention it to him. But she was not equal to the effort.

The few simple words in which he had touched on the tie that bound Lady

Janet to her had wrung her heart. Her tears choked her. She could only

sign to him to go on.

"You may wonder at my speaking so positively," he continued, "with

nothing better than my own conviction to justify me. I can only say

that I have watched Lady Janet too closely to feel any doubt. I saw the

moment in which the truth flashed on her, as plainly as I now see you.

It did not disclose itself gradually--it burst on her, as it burst on

me. She suspected nothing--she was frankly indignant at your sudden

interference and your strange language--until the time came in which

you pledged yourself to produce Mercy Merrick. Then (and then only)

the truth broke on her mind, trebly revealed to her in your words, your

voice, and your look. Then (and then only) I saw a marked change come

over her, and remain in her while she remained in the room. I dread to

think of what she may do in the first reckless despair of the discovery

that she has made. I distrust--though God knows I am not naturally a

suspicious man--the most apparently trifling events that are now taking

place about us. You have held nobly to your resolution to own the truth.

Prepare yourself, before the evening is over, to be tried and tempted

again."

Mercy lifted her head. Fear took the place of grief in her eyes, as they

rested in startled inquiry on Julian's face.

"How is it possible that temptation can come to me now?" she asked.

"I will leave it to events to answer that question," he said. "You will

not have long to wait. In the meantime I have put you on your guard."

He stooped, and spoke his next words earnestly, close at her ear. "Hold

fast by the admirable courage which you have shown thus far," he went

on. "Suffer anything rather than suffer the degradation of yourself. Be

the woman whom I once spoke of--the woman I still have in my mind--who

can nobly reveal the noble nature that is in her. And never forget

this--my faith in you is as firm as ever!"

She looked at him proudly and gratefully.

"I am pledged to justify your faith in me," she said. "I have put it

out of my own power to yield. Horace has my promise that I will explain

everything to him, in this room."