No wonder Paul turns sad and won't talk of her, and that she don't see anyone," sighed Hester pitifully.
"What is it?
I see, but don't understand," whispered Lillian.
"She's an innocent, deary, an idiot, though that's a hard word for a pretty creature like her." "How terrible! Come away, Hester, and never breathe to anyone what we have seen." And with a shudder and sense of pain and pity lying heavy at her heart, she hurried away, feeling doubly guilty in the discovery of this affliction.

The thought of it haunted her continually; the memory of the lonely girl gave her no peace; and a consciousness of deceit burdened her unspeakably, especially in Paul's presence.

This lasted for a week, then Lillian resolved to confess, hoping that when he found she knew the truth he would let her share his cross and help to lighten it.
Waiting her opportunity, she seized a moment when her mother was absent, and with her usual frankness spoke out impetuously.
"Paul, I've done wrong, and I can have no peace till I am pardoned.

I have seen Helen." "Where, when, and how ?" he asked, looking disturbed and yet relieved.
She told him rapidly, and as she ended she looked up at him with her sweet face, so full of pity, shame, and grief it would have been impossible to deny her anything.
"Can you forgive me for discovering this affliction ?" "I think I could forgive you a far greater fault, Lillian," he answered, in a tone that said many things.
"But deceit is so mean, so dishonorable and contemptible, how can you so easily pardon it in me ?" she asked, quite overcome by this forgiveness, granted without any reproach.
"Then you would find it hard to pardon such a thing in another ?" he said, with the expression that always puzzled her.
"Yes, it would be hard; but in those I loved, I could forgive much for love's sake." With a sudden gesture he took her hand saying, impulsively, "How little changed you are! Do you remember that last ride of ours nearly five years ago ?" "Yes, Paul," she answered, with averted eyes.
"And what we talked of ?" "A part of that childish gossip I remember well." "Which part ?" "The pretty little romance you told me." And Lillian looked up now, longing to ask if Helen's childhood had been blighted like her youth.
Paul dropped her hand as if he, read her thoughts, and his own hand went involuntarily toward his breast, betraying that the locket still hung there.
"What did I say ?" he asked, smiling at her sudden shyness.
"You vowed you'd win and wed your fair little lady-love if you lived." "And so I will," he cried, with sudden fire in his eyes.
"What, marry her ?" "Aye, that I will." "Oh Paul, will you tie yourself for life to a--" The word died on her lips, but a gesture of repugnance finished the speech.
"A what ?" he demanded, excitedly.
"An innocent, one bereft of reason," stammered Lillian, entirely forgetting herself in her interest for him.
"Of whom do you speak ?" asked Paul, looking utterly bewildered, "Of poor Helen." "Good heavens, who told you that base lie ?" And his voice deepened with indignant pain.
"I saw her, you did not deny her affliction; Hester said so, and I believed it.

Have I wronged her, Paul ?" "Yes, cruelly.