e she will do you no serious
damage; but I tell you the whole state of affairs exactly as they are,
that you may form your own opinions. After all, there is no real
disgrace, for none of us have ever done wrong, but have worked
honestly for a living. However, I will let you know if anything
serious really happens.'

This was all that her father said on the matter, the letter concluding
with messages to the children and directions from their mother with
regard to their clothes.

Ethelberta felt very distinctly that she was in a strait; the old
impression that, unless her position were secured soon, it never would be
secured, returned with great force. A doubt whether it was worth
securing would have been very strong ere this, had not others besides
herself been concerned in her fortunes. She looked up from her letter,
and beheld the pertinacious yacht; it led her up to a conviction that
therein lay a means and an opportunity.

Nothing further of importance occurred in crossing. Ethelberta's head
ached after a while, and Cornelia's healthy cheeks of red were found to
have diminished their colour to the size of a wafer and the quality of a
stain. The Speedwell entered the breakwater at Cherbourg to find the
schooner already in the roadstead; and by the time the steamer was
brought up Ethelberta could see the men on board the yacht clewing up and
making things snug in a way from which she inferred that they were not
going to leave the harbour again that day. With the aspect of a fair
galleon that could easily out-manoeuvre her persevering buccaneer,
Ethelberta passed alongside. Could it be possible that Lord Mountclere
had on her account fixed this day for his visit across the Channel?

'Well, I would rather be haunted by him than by Mr. Neigh,' she said; and
began laying her plans so as to guard against inconvenient surprises.

The next morning Ethelberta was at the railway station, taking tickets
for herself and Cornelia, when she saw an old yet sly and somewhat merry-
faced Englishman a little way off. He was attended by a younger man, who
appeared to be his valet.

'I will exchange one of these tickets,' she said to the clerk, and having
done so she went to Cornelia to inform her that it would after all be
advisable for them to travel separate, adding, 'Lord Mountclere is in the
station, and I think he is going on by our train. Remember, you are my
maid again now. Is not that the gentlema