business," said Cecilia in
an indignant tone as she left the room.

But Mr. Western was at the hall door, and the coming of Sir Francis
had to be explained at once. That could not be left to be told when
Miss Altifiorla should have gone,--not even though she were going
to-morrow. "Sir Francis Geraldine has been here," she said almost
before he had entered the room. She was immediately aware that
she had been too sudden, and had given by her voice too great an
importance to her idea of the visit.

But he was not surprised at that and did not notice it. "Sir Francis
Geraldine! A man whom I particularly do not wish to know! And what
has brought him here?"

"He came to call. He is a Devonshire man, and he knew us at Exeter."

"He is the Dean's brother-in-law. I remember. And when he came what
did he say? Unless you and he were very intimate I think he might as
well have remained away. There are some stories here not altogether
to his credit. I do not know much about his business, but he is not a
delectable acquaintance."

"We were intimate," said Cecilia. "Maude Hippesley, his niece, was my
dearest friend." The words were no sooner out of her mouth than she
was aware that she had fibbed. Miss Altifiorla was justified. Why had
she not stopped at the assurance of her intimacy with Sir Francis,
and leave unexplained the nature of it? Every step which she took
made further steps terribly difficult!

After dinner, Mr. Western, as a matter of course, brought up
the subject of Sir Francis Geraldine. "Did you know him, Miss
Altifiorla?"

"Oh, yes!" said that lady, looking at Cecilia with peculiar eyes.
Only that Mr. Western was a man and not a woman, and among men the
least suspicious till his suspicion was aroused, he would have
discovered at once from Miss Altifiorla's manner that there was a
secret.

"He seems to have lived in very good clerical society down in
Exeter,--a very different class from those with whom he has been
intimate here."

"Of course he was staying at the Deanery," said Cecilia.

"And the Dean, I know, is a very pearl of Church propriety. It is odd
what different colours men show at different places. Down here, where
he is well known, a great many even of the racing men fight shy of
him. But I beg your pardon if he be a particular friend of yours,
Miss Altifiorla."

"Oh dear, no, not of mine at all. I should never have known him to
speak to but for Cecilia." Her words no doubt were true; but ag