she said, and eyed
the culprit as judges generally are not wont to do. »It will be a shock to Rose.
I must tell you that I can't regret it. I would not have employed force with
her, but I should have given her as strong a taste of the world as it was in my
power to give. Girls get their reason from society. But, come! if you think you
can make your case out better to her, you shall speak to her first yourself.«
    »No, my lady,« said Evan, softly.
    »You would rather not?«
    »I could not.«
    »But, I suppose, she 'll want to speak to you when she knows it.«
    »I can take death from her hands, but I cannot slay myself.«
    The language was natural to his condition, though the note was pitched high.
Lady Jocelyn hummed till the sound of it was over, and an idea striking her, she
said:
    »Ah, by the way, have you any tremendous moral notions?«
    »I don't think I have, madam.«
    »People act on that mania sometimes, I believe. Do you think it an outrage
on decency for a wife to run away from a mad husband whom they won't shut up,
and take shelter with a friend? Is that the cause? Mr. Forth is an old friend of
mine. I would trust my daughter with him in a desert, and stake my hand on his
honour.«
    »Oh, Lady Jocelyn!« cried Evan. »Would to God you might ever have said that
of me! Madam, I love you. I shall never see you again. I shall never meet one to
treat me so generously. I leave you, blackened in character - you cannot think
of me without contempt. I can never hope that this will change. But, for your
kindness let me thank you.«
    And as speech is poor where emotion is extreme - and he knew his own to be
especially so - he took her hand with petitioning eyes, and dropping on one
knee, reverentially kissed it.
    Lady Jocelyn was human enough to like to be appreciated. She was a veteran
Pagan, and may have had the instinct that a peculiar virtue in this young one
was the spring of his conduct. She stood up and said: »Don't forget that you
have a friend here.«
    The poor youth had to turn his head from her.
    »You wish that I should tell Rose