very glad to come, Mr. George. As long as I live I
shall be in your debt, for I cannot forget that I owe you my life."

"The fairy godmother is whispering in her ear," said the Major in a loud
aside. "She talks like a woman of forty."

While still some distance away we could see Lady Chillington sunning
herself on the western terrace. With a pang of regret I saw that Sister
Agnes was not with her. The Major quickened his pace; I clung to his
hand, and felt without seeing that her ladyship's eyes were fixed upon
me severely.

"I have brought back your wandering princess," said the Major, in his
cheery way, as he lifted his hat. Then, as he took her proffered hand,
"I hope your ladyship is in perfect health."

"No princess, Major Strickland, but a base beggar brat," said Lady
Chillington, without heeding his last words. "From the first moment of
my seeing her I had a presentiment that she would cause me nothing but
trouble and annoyance. That presentiment has been borne out by facts--by
facts!" She nodded her head at the Major, and rubbed one lean hand
viciously within the other.

"Your ladyship forgets that the child herself is here. Pray consider her
feelings."

"Were my feelings considered by those who sent her to Deepley Walls? I
ought to have been consulted in the matter--to have had time given me to
make fresh arrangements. It was enough to be burdened with the cost of
her maintenance, without the added nuisance of having her before me as a
continual eyesore. But I have arranged. Next week she leaves Deepley
Walls for the Continent, and if I never see her face again, so much the
better for both of us."

"With all due respect to your ladyship, it seems to me that your tone is
far more bitter than the occasion demands. What may be the relationship
between Miss Hope and yourself it is quite impossible for me to say;
but that there is a tie of some sort between you I cannot for a moment
doubt."

"And pray, Major Strickland, what reason may you have for believing that
a tie of any kind exists between this young person and the mistress of
Deepley Walls?"

"I will take my stand on one point: on the extraordinary resemblance
which this child bears to--"

"To whom, Major Strickland?"

"To one who lies buried in Elvedon churchyard. You know whom I mean.
Such a likeness is far too remarkable to be the result of accident."

"I deny the existence of any such likeness," said Lady Chillington,
vehemently. "I deny i