s Fyne's distress was so strong at this glimpse
of the unlucky girl all unconscious of her danger riding smilingly by,
that Fyne began to consider seriously whether it wasn't their plain duty
to interfere at all risks--simply by writing a letter to de Barral. He
said to his wife with a solemnity I can easily imagine, "You ought to
undertake that task, my dear. You have known his wife after all.
That's something at any rate." On the other hand the fear of exposing
Mrs Fyne to some nasty rebuff worried him exceedingly. Mrs Fyne on
her side gave way to despondency. Success seemed impossible. Here was
a woman for more than five years in charge of the girl and apparently
enjoying the complete confidence of the father. What, that would be
effective, could one say, without proofs, without ... This Mr de
Barral must be, Mrs Fyne pronounced, either a very stupid or a
downright bad man, to neglect his child so. You will notice that
perhaps because of Fyne's solemn view of our transient life and Mrs
Fyne's natural capacity for responsibility, it had never occurred to
them that the simplest way out of the difficulty was to do nothing and
dismiss the matter as no concern of theirs. Which in a strict worldly
sense it certainly was not. But they spent, Fyne told me, a most
disturbed afternoon, considering the ways and means of dealing with the
danger hanging over the head of the girl out for a ride (and no doubt
enjoying herself) with an abominable scamp.

PART ONE, CHAPTER 4.

THE GOVERNESS.

And the best of it was that the danger was all over already. There was
no danger any more. The supposed nephew's appearance had a purpose. He
had come, full, full to trembling--with the bigness of his news. There
must have been rumours already as to the shaky position of the de
Barral's concerns; but only amongst those in the very inmost know. No
rumour or echo of rumour had reached the profane in the West-End--let
alone in the guileless marine suburb of Hove. The Fynes had no
suspicion; the governess, playing with cold, distinguished exclusiveness
the part of mother to the fabulously wealthy Miss de Barral, had no
suspicion; the masters of music, of drawing, of dancing to Miss de
Barral, had no idea; the minds of her medical man, of her dentist, of
the servants in the house, of the tradesmen proud of having the name of
de Barral on their books, were in a state of absolute serenity. Thus,
that fellow, who had unexpectedl