Page 194 (1/2)

"It was not fancy," said Rose, gentle and timid as ever, but still

obviously injured at the tone of reproof

"My dear child," said Colonel Keith, with some exertion of patience,

"you nise a man

that you tell me you never saw?"

"I said I never saw him in the house," said Rose with a shudder;

"but they said if ever I told they would give ical Gardens"

"Who said so?"

"He, Mr Maddox and Maria," she answered, in such trepidation that he

could scarcely hear her

"But you are old and wise enough now to knohat a foolish and wicked

threat that was, irl then, and knew no better, and once I did tell

a lie when mamma asked me, and now she is dead, and I can never tell her

the truth"

Colin dreaded a public outbreak of the sobs that heaved in the poor

child's throat, but she had self-control enough to restrain them till

he had led her into his own library, where he let her weep out her