"
"I interfere!" Wingrave remarked. "You need not be afraid of that. The
affair as it stands is far too interesting. Call her, and make your
appeal."
"I shall tell her the truth," Aynesworth declared.
"By all means! I shall remain and listen to my indictment. Quite a
novel sensation! Call the young lady, by all means, and don't spare
me."
Aynesworth moved a few steps up the path. He called to her softly, and
she came through the little iron gates from the rose gardens. She was
very pale, and there was a gleam in her eyes which was like fear.
Aynesworth took her by the hand and led her forward.
"You must be brave, dear," he whispered. "I am compelled to say some
disagreeable things. It is for your good. It is because I care for you
so much."
She looked towards Wingrave. He was sitting upon the garden seat, and
his face was absolutely expressionless. He spoke to her, and his cold,
precise tone betrayed not the slightest sign of any emotion.
"Aynesworth," he remarked, "is going to tell you some interesting
facts about myself. Please listen attentively as afterwards you will
be called upon to make a somewhat important decision."
She looked at him a little wistfully and sighed. There was no trace
any longer of her companion of the last few weeks. It was the stern
and gloomy stranger of her earlier recollections who sat there with
folded arms.
"Is it really necessary?" she asked.
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