plan for communicating with the police a strict secret--"

"A strict secret from Grace?" interposed Lady Janet. (Julian bowed.) "Do
you suppose I want to frighten her? Do you think I have not had anxiety
enough about her already? Of course I shall keep it a secret from
Grace!"

Re-assured on this point, Julian hastened out into the grounds. As soon
as his back was turned Lady Janet lifted the gold pencil-case which hung
at her watch-chain, and wrote on her nephew's card (for the information
of the officer in plain clothes), "_You are wanted at Mablethorpe
House_." This done, she put the card into the old-fashioned pocket of
her dress, and returned to the dining-room.

Grace was waiting, in obedience to the instructions which she had
received.

For the first moment or two not a word was spoken on either side. Now
that she was alone with her adopted daughter, a certain coldness and
hardness began to show itself in Lady Janet's manner. The discovery that
she had made on opening the drawing-room door still hung on her mind.
Julian had certainly convinced her that she had misinterpreted what she
had seen; but he had convinced her against her will. She had found Mercy
deeply agitated; suspiciously silent. Julian might be innocent, she
admitted--there was no accounting for the vagaries of men. But the case
of Mercy was altogether different. Women did not find themselves in the
arms of men without knowing what they were about. Acquitting Julian,
Lady Janet declined to acquit Mercy. "There is some secret understanding
between them," thought the old lady, "and she's to blame; the women
always are!"

Mercy still waited to be spoken to; pale and quiet, silent and
submissive. Lady Janet--in a highly uncertain state of temper--was
obliged to begin.

"My dear!" she called out, sharply.

"Yes, Lady Janet."

"How much longer are you going to sit there with your mouth shut up and
your eyes on the carpet? Have you no opinion to offer on this alarming
state of things? You heard what the man said to Julian--I saw you
listening. Are you horribly frightened?"

"No, Lady Janet."

"Not even nervous?"

"No, Lady Janet."

"Ha! I should hardly have given you credit for so much courage after my
experience of you a week ago. I congratulate you on your recovery."

"Thank you, Lady Janet."

"I am not so composed as you are. We were an excitable set in _my_
youth--and I haven't got the better of it yet. I feel nervous. Do you
h