"Then it all depends on that object that you regard, for your reasons, as evidence ?" "I think I may say that _I_ depend on it.

I can't," said Maggie, "treat it as nothing now." Mrs.Assingham, at this, went closer to the cup on the chimney--quite liking to feel that she did so, moreover, without going closer to her companion's vision.

She looked at the precious thing--if precious it was--found herself in fact eyeing it as if, by her dim solicitation, to draw its secret from it rather than suffer the imposition of Maggie's knowledge.

It was brave and rich and firm, with its bold deep hollow; and, without this queer torment about it, would, thanks to her love of plenty of yellow, figure to her as an enviable ornament, a possession really desirable.

She didn't touch it, but if after a minute she turned away from it the reason was, rather oddly and suddenly, in her fear of doing so.