"You didn't meet him?" Mildred asked, drawing near the governess, and speaking in an undertone.
"No; I must have taken the wrong road. Mr. Dinsmore, I owe you an explanation. Shall it be given now?"
The voice was very low, very tremulous, but the sad eyes were lifted unflinchingly to his stern face.
"As you please," he said, his features softening a little at sight of her distress. "You look hardly able to make it now, and some hours later will answer just as well. Indeed, I think we would all do well to go to our beds as soon as possible. But stay a moment."
He stepped into the dining-room, and returned with a glass of wine, which he offered to the governess, saying, "You look ready to faint; drink this, it will do you good."
"No, no, never," she cried, shuddering and recoiling as from a serpent; "it has been the ruin of those I love best."
"Very well," he said coldly, "Mildred, will you take it?"
"No, thank you, uncle; I do not need it and would rather not," the young girl answered pleasantly.
"Silly girl," he said, draining the glass himself. "Well, good night, ladies; or rather good morning. Miss Worth, I will see you in the library directly after breakfast."
"What a blessing that it has turned out so well," Mildred said to her companion.
"Has it?" queried the governess, in a bewildered tone, and putting her hand to her head. "I feel as though the earth were reeling beneath my feet. I can not think."
"Let me help you to your room; a few hours' rest will make all right again with you, I trust," Mildred said compassionately.
"Don't allow yourself to feel anxious or distressed," she went on, as she assisted her up the stairs. "I am sure uncle will not be hard with you when he learns how free from blame you are; Juliet has been saved, and he seems to have escaped, and will not be likely to try it again."
"Ah, if I could have met and warned him," sighed the governess.
"Surely it is better as it is, since he has got away without," reasoned Mildred: "for might he not have been angry and abusive?"
"True, too true!" she murmured, catching at the balusters to keep from falling; "yes, it is better so; but my brain reels and I cannot think."
Mildred was alarmed. "What can I do for you?" she asked.