"The old story," in a despairing voice; "will you never give me even the benefit of an excuse--will you never allow me to defend myself?"
"I am not your judge," was the cold reply; and then, as she saw the misery of his face, she relented. "Indeed, it is not too late to retrieve the past. If you have debts, if you are in trouble, own it frankly to your grandfather."
"And be turned out of the house a beggar?"
"What of that," she replied, cheerfully; "you have a profession; every one says how clever you are--what a splendid barrister you will make. You can take pupils; success and money will come to you in time."
"Too late," he muttered; "I can not free myself." Then, with a sudden change of look and tone, "Crystal, if I do this--if I leave Belgrave House, will you give me a hope of winning you in the future?"
She shook her head; "I can not give you that hope."
"Because I belong to another," she answered, slowly, and there came a wonderful light in her eyes; "and for his sake I will live as I am to my life's end."
They had reached Beulah Place by this time, and Mrs. Watkins's shop was in sight. There were few passers-by, so no one noticed why Percy suddenly stood still and seized his companion's hands.
"You love another man? You dare to tell me this?"
"I tell you this for your own good, and that you may never speak to me again as you have done. You must not be angry with me for telling you the truth; and now will you ring the bell, for there is no need to go through the shop?"
"I am not coming in," he said, hoarsely. "I can not trust myself."
"Then we will say good-bye here," was the quiet answer, and she pressed his hands kindly. "Forgive me if I have made you unhappy, but indeed it is your fault, and I thought it better to tell you the truth. Good-bye, my poor boy;" but though her voice was full of gentleness and pity, he scarcely heard it. He had wrung her hands, almost throwing them from him, and had turned away without a word.
Crystal looked after him rather wistfully; her heart felt strangely soft to him to-night. "Was it wrong to tell him, I wonder?" she said to herself, as she quickly retraced her steps. "He is terribly reckless, one never knows how he may take things. It was good of him to listen to me so patiently; and now he has gone away sore and angry."