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THE VANITY BOX

gencies, and even to add obscurely, "I have secured the means, if I ever need to use them."

The two are safe from the clutches of the law, thanks to Father Tennant (who will in the future be burdened with fewer confidences from his female adorers, I prophesy), but they will never be safe from gossip. Wherever they go, whatever they do—unless they change their names, they will be marked men. I don't envy them! Indeed, I am sorry for young Barr and the girl who, I hear, intends to marry and go to America with him, to "begin over again." But as for Hereward, he hasn't much sympathy from me, and so I tell every one. His cruel repulse of that unfortunate creature when she pleaded to him for pardon undoubtedly caused her death. I wouldn't have that on my conscience. But I never thought him a man of deep feeling, and I have known him since his youth. He always was a haughty, arrogant fellow, and certainly has nothing to be proud of in the way he treated Miss Ricardo. As you say in your letter, he did not, to be sure, mention her name in his statement; but every one knew to whom he referred. Their engagement years ago was an open secret, as I have told you before—and have told others. Nevertheless, she seems to bear him no grudge. If I could see her, I would try to find out of what she was supposed to accuse herself in the forged letter which poor Millicent Latham showed Hereward, in the hope of