. May I ask whether you were
born in this part of the country?"

"At Clacton, Miss Ingate," answered Mr. Cowl imperturbably.

"I knew it," said Miss Ingate, and the corners of her lips went
sardonically down.

"Please don't trouble to come downstairs," said Mr. Cowl. "My bag is
packed. I have tipped the parlourmaid, and there is just time to catch the
train."

He departed, leaving the two women speechless.

After a moment, Miss Ingate said dryly:

"He was so very peculiar I knew he must belong to these parts."

"How did he know I left my blue frock at Miss Pannell's?" cried Audrey. "I
never told him."

"He must have been eavesdropping!" cried Miss Ingate. "He never found the
key in your frock. He must have found it here somewhere; I feel sure it
must have dropped by the safe, and I lay anything he had opened the safe
before and read the will before. I could tell from the way he looked."

"And why should he suppose that I'd the key?" Audrey put in.

"Eavesdropping! I'm convinced that man knows too much." Audrey reddened
once more. "I believe he thought you'd be capable of burning the will.
That's why he made you handle it in his presence and mine."

"Well, Winnie," said Audrey, "I think you might have told him all that
while he was here, instead of letting him go off so triumphant."

"I did begin to," said Miss Ingate with a snigger. "But you wouldn't back
me up, you little coward."

"I shall never be a coward again!" Audrey said violently.

They read the will together. They had no difficulty at all in comprehending
it now that they were alone.

"I do think it's a horrid shame Aguilar should have that ten pounds," said
Audrey. "But otherwise I don't care. You can't guess how relieved I am,
Winnie. I imagined the most dreadful things. I don't know what I imagined.
But now we shall have all the property and everything, just as much as ever
there was, and only me and mother to spend it." Audrey danced an embryonic
jig. "Won't I keep mother in order! Winnie, I shall make her go with me to
Paris. I've always wanted to know that Madame Piriac--she does write such
funny English in her letters."

"What's that you're saying?" murmured Miss Ingate, who had picked up the
letter which Mr. Cowl had laid on the small table.

"I say I shall make mother go to Paris with me."

"You won't," said Miss Ingate. "Because she won't go. I know your mother
better than you do.... Oh! Audrey!"

Audrey saw Miss Ingate's face