aunt when he made
his reply, he looked round at Mercy with a troubled curiosity in his
face, very strange to see. Lady Janet tapped him impatiently on the
shoulder. "I expect people to look at me when people speak to me," she
said. "What are you staring at my adopted daughter for?"

"Your adopted daughter?" Julian repeated--looking at his aunt this time,
and looking very earnestly.

"Certainly! As Colonel Roseberry's daughter, she is connected with me by
marriage already. Did you think I had picked up a foundling?"

Julian's face cleared; he looked relieved. "I had forgotten the
Colonel," he answered. "Of course the young lady is related to us, as
you say."

"Charmed, I am sure, to have satisfied you that Grace is not an
impostor," said Lady Janet, with satirical humility. She took Julian's
arm and drew him out of hearing of Horace and Mercy. "About that letter
of yours?" she proceeded. "There is one line in it that rouses my
curiosity. Who is the mysterious 'lady' whom you wish to present to me?"

Julian started, and changed color.

"I can't tell you now," he said, in a whisper.

"Why not?"

To Lady Janet's unutterable astonishment, instead of replying, Julian
looked round at her adopted daughter once more.

"What has _she_ got to do with it?" asked the old lady, out of all
patience with him.

"It is impossible for me to tell you," he answered, gravely, "while Miss
Roseberry is in the room."

CHAPTER IX. NEWS FROM MANNHEIM.

LADY JANET'S curiosity was by this time thoroughly aroused. Summoned to
explain who the nameless lady mentioned in his letter could possibly be,
Julian had looked at her adopted daughter. Asked next to explain what
her adopted daughter had got to do with it, he had declared that he
could not answer while Miss Roseberry was in the room.

What did he mean? Lady Janet determined to find out.

"I hate all mysteries," she said to Julian. "And as for secrets, I
consider them to be one of the forms of ill-breeding. People in our rank
of life ought to be above whispering in corners. If you _must_ have your
mystery, I can offer you a corner in the library. Come with me."

Julian followed his aunt very reluctantly. Whatever the mystery might
be, he was plainly embarrassed by being called upon to reveal it at a
moment's notice. Lady Janet settled herself in her chair, prepared to
question and cross-question her nephew, when an obstacle appeared at the
other end of the library, in the sh