Dismissing the girls to their own chambers, with strict injunctions not to quit them unpermitted, I was left alone with Eveena.

We were silent for some minutes, my own heart oppressed with mingled emotions, all intensely painful, but so confused that, while conscious of acute suffering, I scarcely realised anything that had occurred.

Eveena, who knelt beside me, though deeply horror-struck, was less surprised and was far less agitated than I.At last, leaning forward with her arms on my knee and looking up in my face, she was about to speak.

But the touch and look seemed to break a spell, and, shuddering from head to foot, I burst into tears like those of an hysterical girl.

When, with the strongest effort that shame and necessity could prompt, aided by her silent soothing, I had somewhat regained my self-command, Eveena spoke, in the same attitude and with the same look:-- "You said once that you could pardon such an attempt.