At such times they were inseparable; but after he had been "called"-- there being no necessity for him to practise, he being heir to the estates--he had gone to India and Japan "to broaden his mind," as his father had explained.
"I wonder, Gabrielle," he said hesitatingly, holding her hand as they stood at the open window--"I wonder if you will forgive me if I put a question to you.

I--I know I ought not to ask it," he stammered; "but it is only because I love you so well, dearest, that I ask you to tell me the truth." "The truth!" echoed the girl, looking at him with some surprise, though turning just a trifle paler, he thought.

"The truth about what ?" "About that man James Flockart," was his low, distinct reply.
"About him! Why, my dear Walter," she laughed, "whatever do you want to know about him?
You know all that I know.

We were agreed long ago that he is not a gentleman, weren't we ?" "Yes," he said.

"Don't you recollect our talk at your house in London two years ago, soon after you came back from school?
Do you remember what you then told me ?" She flushed slightly at the recollection.