Godfrey, reaching the hall, saw Mary, and came up to her with a formal bow, and a face flushed with displeasure.
"May I speak to you alone, Mr.Wardour ?" said Mary.

"Can you not say what you have to say here ?" "It is impossible." "Then I am curious to know--" "Let your curiosity plead for me, then." With a sigh of impatience he yielded, and led the way to the drawing-room, which was at the other end of the hall.

Mary turned and shut the door he left open.
"Why all this mystery, Miss Marston ?" he said.

"I am not aware of anything between you and me that can require secrecy." He spoke with unconcealed scorn.
"When I have made my communication, you will at least allow secrecy to have been necessary." "Some objects may require it!" said Wardour, in a tone itself an insult.
"Mr.Wardour," returned Mary, "I am here for your sake, not my own.

May I beg you will not render a painful duty yet more difficult ?" "May _I_ beg, then, that you will be as brief as possible?
I am more than doubtful whether what you have to say will seem to me of so much consequence as you suppose." "I shall be very glad to find it so." "I can not give you more than ten minutes." Mary looked at her watch.
"You have lately become acquainted with Miss Yolland, I am told," she began.
"Whew!" whistled Godfrey, yet hardly as if he were surprised.
"I have been compelled to know a good deal of that lady." "As lady's-maid in her family, I believe." "Yes," said Mary--then changing her tone after a slight pause, went on: "Mr.Wardour, I owe you more than I can ever thank you for.