o her daughter.

"There can be no sort of doubt, Catherine, that our good friend and
neighbor has heard, probably from the servants, of what has happened;
and (having her husband to consider--men are so weak!) has drawn her own
conclusions. If she trusts our fascinating governess, it's because she
knows that Miss Westerfield's affections are left behind her in this
house. Does my explanation satisfy you?"

Mrs. Linley said: "Never let me hear it again!"

And Mrs. Presty answered: "How very ungrateful!"

The dreary interval of expectation, after the departure of the carriage,
was brightened by a domestic event.

Thinking it possible that Mrs. Presty might know why her husband had
left the house, Mrs. Linley sent to ask for information. The message
in reply informed her that Linley had received a telegram announcing
Randal's return from London. He had gone to the railway station to meet
his brother.

Before she went downstairs to welcome Randal, Mrs. Linley paused
to consider her situation. The one alternative before her was to
acknowledge at the first opportunity that she had assumed the serious
responsibility of sending for Sydney Westerfield. For the first time in
her life, Catherine Linley found herself planning beforehand what she
would say to her husband.

A second message interrupted her, announcing that the two brothers had
just arrived. She joined them in the drawing-room.

Linley was sitting in a corner by himself. The dreadful discovery
that the child's life (by the doctor's confession) was in danger had
completely overwhelmed him: he had never even lifted his head when his
wife opened the door. Randal and Mrs. Presty were talking together.
The old lady's insatiable curiosity was eager for news from London: she
wanted to know how Randal had amused himself when he was not attending
to business.

He was grieving for Kitty; and he was looking sadly at his brother.
"I don't remember," he answered, absently. Other women might have
discovered that they had chosen their time badly. Mrs. Presty, with the
best possible intentions, remonstrated.

"Really, Randal, you must rouse yourself. Surely you can tell us
something. Did you meet with any agreeable people, while you were away?"

"I met one person who interested me," he said, with weary resignation.

Mrs. Presty smiled. "A woman, of course!"

"A man," Randal answered; "a guest like myself at a club dinner."

"Who is he?"

"Captain Bennydeck."

"In