By degrees she had gone further than she intended, and now the fatal consequences looked her in the face.
She found herself in an odious position; for her growing regard for young Drake, though not a violent attachment, was enough to set her more and more against Richard Bassett, and she was preparing an entire separation from the latter when the fatal truth dawned on her.
Then there was a temporary revulsion of feeling; she told her condition to Bassett, and implored him, with many tears, to aid her to disappear for a time and hide her misfortune, especially from her sister.
Mr.Bassett heard her, and then gave her an answer that made her blood run cold.

"Why do you come to me ?" said he.

"Why don't you go to the right man--young Drake ?" He then told her he had had her watched, and she must not think to make a fool of him.

She was as intimate with the young farmer as with him, and was in his company every day.
Mary Wells admitted that Drake was courting her, but said he was a civil, respectful young man, who desired to make her his wife.

"You have lost me that," said she, bursting into tears; "and so, for God's sake, show yourself a man for once, and see me through my trouble." The egotist disbelieved, or affected not to believe her, and said, "When there are two it is always the gentleman you girls deceive.