t Sunday!"

"Not him! Oh, people are talking a lot about it."

This revelation left me absolutely speechless. Tiel had told me
distinctly and deliberately that he had gone through the farce of
preaching last Sunday--and now I learned that this was a lie. What was
worse, he had assured me that he was causing no comment, and I now was
told that people were "talking." Coming straight on top of my
discovery of his reckless conduct of Eileen's affair, what was I to
think of him?

It was at this black moment that Tiel and Eileen entered the room. My
heart stood still for an instant at the thought that, in their first
surprise, something might be disclosed or some slip made by one of us.
But the next instant I saw that they had learned who was here and were
perfectly prepared.

"How do you do, Mr Craigie!" cried Eileen radiantly.

Mr Craigie seemed distinctly taken aback by the absence of all signs of
guilt or confusion.

"I'm keeping as well as I can, thank you, considering my anxiety," said
he.

"About my sister, sir?" inquired Tiel with his most brazen effrontery,
coming forward and smiling cordially. "Surely you got my letter?"

I started. The man clearly had been at the key-hole during the latter
part of our conversation, or he could hardly have made this remark fit
so well into what I had said.

"I'm afraid I didn't."

"Tut, tut!" said Tiel, with a marvellously well-assumed air of
annoyance. "The local posts seem to have become utterly disorganised.
Apparently they pay no attention to civilian letters at all."

"You're right there," replied Mr Craigie with feeling. "The only use
we are for is just to be taxed."

"What must you think of us?" cried Eileen, whose acting was fully the
equal of Tiel's. "However, my brother will explain everything now."

"Yes," said Tiel; "if Mr Craigie happens to be going--and I'm afraid
we've kept him very late already--I'll tell him all about it as we walk
back to his car."

He gave Mr Craigie a confidential glance as though to indicate that he
had something private for his ear. Our visitor, on his part, was
obviously reluctant to leave an audience of three, especially as it
included his admired governess; but Tiel handled the situation with
quite extraordinary urbanity and skill. He managed to open the door
and all but pushed Mr Craigie out of the room, without a hint of
inhospitality, and solely as though he were seeking only his
convenience. I could scarce