But I stayed at his request, because he did not wish his daughter to be alone." "I can easily understand that, Mrs.Finn." "I wanted her to go to Lady Cantrip who had invited her, but she would not.

In that way we were thrown together in the closest intercourse, for two or three weeks.

Then she told me the story of your engagement." "That was natural, I suppose." "Surely so.

Think of her position, left as she is without a mother! It was incumbent on her to tell someone.

There was, however, one other person in whom it would have been much better that she should have confided." "What person ?" "Her father." "I rather fancy that it is I who ought to tell him." "As far as I understand these things, Mr.Tregear,--which, indeed, is very imperfectly,--I think it is natural that a girl should at once tell her mother when a gentleman has made her understand that he loves her." "She did so, Mrs.Finn." "And I suppose that generally the mother would tell the father." "She did not." "No; and therefore the position of the young lady is now one of great embarrassment.