tlemen, in the supper-room, expressing their admiration of the
luxuries provided for the guests, the exquisite French cookery and the
delicious wine? Why was all the money which these things cost spent in
one evening? Because Lady Northlake's parties must be matched by Mrs.
Gallilee's parties. Lady Northlake lives in a fashionable neighbourhood
in London, and has splendid carriages and horses. This is a fashionable
neighbourhood. Judge what this house costs, and the carriages and
horses, when I tell you that the rent of the stables alone is over a
hundred pounds a year. Lady Northlake has a superb place in Scotland.
Mrs. Gallilee is not able to rival her sister in that respect--but she
has her marine villa in the Isle of Wight. When Mr. Gallilee said you
should have some sailing this autumn, did you think he meant that
he would hire a boat? He referred to the yacht, which is part of the
establishment at the sea-side. Lady Northlake goes yachting with her
husband; and Mrs. Gallilee goes yachting with her husband. Do you know
what it costs, when the first milliner in Paris supplies English ladies
with dresses? That milliner's lowest charge for a dress which Mrs.
Gallilee would despise--ordinary material, my dear, and imitation
lace--is forty pounds. Think a little--and even your inexperience
will see that the mistress of this house is spending more than she can
afford, and is likely (unless she has resources that we know nothing
about) to be, sooner or later, in serious need of money.'

"This was a new revelation to me, and it altered my opinion of course.
But I still failed to see what Mrs. Gallilee's extravagances had to
do with her wicked resolution to prevent Ovid from marrying me. Miss
Minerva's only answer to this was to tell me to write to Mr. Mool, while
I had the chance, and ask for a copy of my father's Will. 'I will take
the letter to him,' she said, 'and bring the reply myself. It will save
time, if it does nothing else.' The letter was written in a minute. Just
as she took it from me, the parlour-maid announced that the early dinner
was ready.

"Two hours later, the reply was in my hands. The old father had taken
Maria and Zo for their walk; and Miss Minerva had left the house by
herself--sending word to Mrs. Gallilee that she was obliged to go out on
business of her own.

"'Did Mrs. Gallilee see you come in?' I asked.

"'Yes. She was watching for me, no doubt.'

"Did she see you go upstairs to my room?'