I saw him going there twice this week . ` Liza Walden 's got ahead of you at last , Mary . '' `` Well , I never did ! '' said Mrs. Bentley . `` Well , Young Si is the first that ever preferred ` Liza Walden 's butter to mine . Everyone knows what hers is like . She never works her salt half in . Well , Young Si 's welcome to it , I 'm sure ; I wish him joy of his exchange . '' Mrs. Bentley rattled her dishes ominously . It was plain her faith in Young Si had received a severe shock . Upstairs in her room , Ethel Lennox , with a few undried tears glistening on her cheeks , was writing a letter . Her lips were compressed and her hand trembled : `` I have discovered that it is no use to run away from fate , '' she wrote . `` No matter how hard we try to elude it , and how sure we are that we have succeeded , it will rise and meet us where we least expect it . I came down here tired and worn out , looking for peace and rest -- and lo ! the most disquieting element of my life is here to confront me . `` I 'm going to confess , Helen . ` Open confession is good for the soul , ' you know , and I shall treat myself to a good dose while the mood is on . `` You know , of course , that I was once engaged to Miles Lesley . You also know that that engagement was broken last autumn for unexplained reasons . Well , I will tell you all about it and then mail this letter speedily , before I change my mind .
`` It is over a year now since Miles and I XXXXX became engaged .
Bentley Helen Lennox Lesley Mary Si Walden engagement first rest