"You must not do that." It was impossible for her to tell him how especially Girdlestone had cautioned her against him, but she felt that it would never do to allow the two to meet.

"We must conceal our engagement from Mr.Girdlestone." "Conceal our engagement!" "Yes, Tom.

He has warned me so often against anything of the sort, that really I don't know what he would do if he knew about it.

He would certainly make it very uncomfortable for me to live with him.

Remember I am nearly twenty now, so in a little more than a year I shall be entirely free.