o let him interfere with that passionate purpose which seemed to
be beating in her, and through her, like a living thing, though as yet
she had but vaguely defined it even to herself.

* * * * *

After tea, which Mrs. Hooper dispensed with red eyes, and at which
neither Nora nor Dr. Hooper appeared, Constance found a novel, and
established herself in the deserted schoolroom. She couldn't go out. She
was on the watch for a letter that might arrive. The two banks were only
a stone's throw apart. The local post should deliver that letter
about six.

Once Nora looked in to find a document, and was astonished to see Connie
there. But she was evidently too harassed and miserable to talk. Connie
listened uneasily to the opening and shutting of a drawer, with which
she was already acquainted. Then Nora disappeared again. What were they
trying to do, poor dears!--Nora, and Uncle Ewen? What could they do?

The autumn evening darkened slowly. At last!--a ring and a double knock.
The study door opened, and Connie heard Nora's step, and the click of
the letter-box. The study door closed again.

Connie put down her novel and listened. Her hands trembled. She was full
indeed of qualms and compunctions. Would they be angry with her? She had
meant it well.

Footsteps approaching--not Nora's.

Uncle Ewen stood in the doorway--looking very pale and strained.

"Connie, would you mind coming into my study? Something rather strange
has happened."

Connie got up and slowly followed him across the hall. As she entered
the study, she saw Nora, with blazing eyes and cheeks, standing by her
father's writing-table, aglow with anger or excitement--or both. She
looked at Connie as at an enemy, and Connie flushed a bright pink.

Uncle Ewen shut the door, and addressed his niece. "My dear Connie, I
want you, if you can--to throw some light on a letter I have just
received. Both Nora and I suspect your hand in it. If so, you have done
something I--I can't permit."

He held out a letter, which Connie took like a culprit. It was a
communication from his Oxford bankers to Professor Hooper, to the effect
that, a sum of L1100 having been paid in to his credit by a person who
desired to remain unknown, his debt to them was covered, and his account
showed a balance of about six hundred pounds.

"My dear!"--his voice and hand shook--"is that your doing?"

"Of course it is!" interrupted Nora passionately. "Look at h