her own
keeping, only she was "never to do it again."

Miss Marlett did not ask Janey to say nothing about Margaret's
inexplicable adventure. She believed that the girl would have sufficient
sense and good feeling to hold her peace; and if she did not do so of
her own accord, no vows would be likely to bind her. In this favorable
estimate of her pupil's discretion Miss Marlett was not mistaken.

Janey did not even give herself airs of mystery among the girls, which
was an act of creditable self-denial. The rest of the school never
doubted that, on the death of Miss Shields' father, she had been removed
by one of her friends. As for Maitland, he was compelled to pass the
night at Tiverton, revolving many memories. He had now the gravest
reason for anxiety about the girl, of whom he was the only friend
and protector, and who was, undeniably, the victim of some plot or
conspiracy. Nothing more practical than seeking the advice of Bielby of
St. Gatien's occurred to his perplexed imagination.

CHAPTER VI.--At St. Gatien's.

The following day was spent by Maitland in travel, and in pushing such
inquiries as suggested themselves to a mind not fertile in expedients.
He was not wholly unacquainted with novels of adventure, and he based
his conduct, as much as possible, on what he could remember in these
"authorities." For example, he first went in search of the man who had
driven the cab which brought the mysterious Mr. Lithgow to flutter the
Dovecot. So far, there was no difficulty. One of the cabdrivers who
plied at the station perfectly remembered the gentleman in furs whom he
had driven to the school After waiting at the school till the young lady
was ready, he had conveyed them back again to the station, and they took
the up-train. That was all _he_ knew. The gentleman, if his opinion were
asked, was "a scaly varmint." On inquiry, Maitland found that this wide
moral generalization was based on the limited _pour-boire_ which Mr.
Lithgow had presented to his charioteer. Had the gentleman any luggage?
Yes, he had a portmanteau, which he left in the cloak-room, and took
away with him on his return to town--not in the van, in the railway
carriage. "What could he want with all that luggage?" Maitland wondered.

The next thing was, of course, to find the guard of the train which
conveyed Margaret and her mysterious friend to Taunton. This official
had seen the gentleman and the young lady get out at Taunton. They went
o