by Fate, she sought out the very man to whom her
mission was most acceptable; and seated face to face with Bishop Pendle
in that library which had been the scene of so many famous interviews,
she unconsciously gave him a piece of information which put an end to
all his troubles. She had certainly arrived at the eleventh hour, and
might just as well have presented herself earlier; but Destiny, the
playwright of the Universe, always decrees that her dramas should play
their appointed time and never permits her arbitrator to appear until
immediately before the fall of the green curtain. So far as the
Beorminster drama was concerned, the crucial moment was at hand, the
actor--or rather actress--who was to remedy all things was on the scene,
and shortly the curtain would fall on a situation of the rough made
smooth. Then red fire, marriage bells, triumphant virtue and cowering
guilt, with a rhyming tag, delivered by the prettiest actress, of 'All's
well that ends well!'

'I come to consult you confidentially,' said Miss Whichello, when she
and the bishop were alone in the library. 'I wish to ask for your
advice.'

'My advice and my friendship are both at your service, my dear lady,'
replied the courteous bishop.

'It is about Mab's parents,' blurted out the little old lady.

'Oh!' The bishop looked grave. 'You are about to tell me the truth of
those rumours which were prevalent in Beorminster when you brought Miss
Arden home to your house?'

'Yes. I daresay Mrs Pansey said all sorts of wicked things about me,
bishop?'

'Well, no!'--Dr Pendle wriggled uneasily--'she spoke rather of your
sister than of you. I do not wish to repeat scandal, Miss Whichello, so
let us say no more about the matter. Your niece shall marry my son; be
assured of that. It is foolish to rake up the past,' added the bishop,
with a sigh.

'I must rake up the past; I must tell you the truth,' said Miss
Whichello, in firm tones, 'if only to put a stop to Mrs Pansey's evil
tongue. What did she say, bishop?'

'Really, really, my dear lady, I--'

'Bishop, tell me what she said about my sister. I will know.'

Reluctantly the bishop spoke out at this direct request. 'She said that
your sister had eloped in London with a man who afterwards refused to
marry her, that she had a child, and that such child is your niece, Miss
Arden, whom you brought to Beorminster after the death of your unhappy
sister.'

'A fine mixture of truth and fiction indeed,'