often you
have Mrs. Bean and Mr. Randall to see you on the same day, is it?"

"Mr. Randall has been here before," was the reply, "but this is the
first time that Mrs. Bean has favoured me with a call. It was special
business which brought her here to-day."

"You're not going to take Betty away from Mr. David, are you?" Lois
asked, turning to Mrs. Bean.

"Oh, no; it is something far different from that. It is a very serious
matter, I assure you."

"What, no one ill at home, I hope?"

"No. The boys were well when I left."

An awkward silence followed, and Lois felt that there was something of
a private nature which these people were discussing, and that she had
interrupted their conversation.

Jasper, who had risen to his feet as Lois entered the room, divined the
thoughts which were passing through her mind, and came to her
assistance.

"Let Miss Sinclair see the letter, Mrs. Bean," he suggested. "Perhaps
it will explain matters better than we can."

Without a word Mrs. Bean complied with this request, and then leaned
back in her chair with a deep sigh.

Much mystified, Lois ran her eyes over the letter, and as she did so
her face underwent a marvellous transformation. The sunny expression
departed and the colour faded from her cheeks, leaving them very white.
The words seemed to fascinate her, and for a while she stood staring
upon them. Then a tremor shook her body, and her right hand closed,
crushing the letter within it. With a strong effort she regained her
composure and turned toward the widow.

"I cannot understand this," she began. "I had no idea that my father
would do such a thing. There must be some mistake. I shall go now and
think it all over. Will you come with me, Mr. Randall? I would like
to speak with you."

Without another word the two left the house and walked slowly down the
lane leading to the road. Presently Lois stopped and turned to her
companion.

"I am almost heartbroken over what my father has done," she began. "I
have stood by him, and have tried to shield him all I could, but what
is the use of doing so any longer?"

"Could you not speak to him, and induce him to change his mind?" Jasper
asked.

"I can do nothing. He has even turned against me. He believes that I
am his enemy, and that I know more about the affairs of the new company
than I am willing to tell him. He is becoming more unbearable every
day. Only last night he told me that I could leave him