grandchild. I reminded her
that she had friends in London who would receive her, and got snubbed
for taking the liberty. 'I know that as well as you do. Come along--I'm
ready to go with you.' It isn't agreeable to my self-esteem to own it,
but I expected to hear her say that she would consent to any sacrifice
for the sake of her dear daughter. No such clap-trap as that passed her
lips. She owned the true motive with a superiority to cant which won
my sincerest respect. 'I'll do anything,' she said, 'to baffle Herbert
Linley and the spies he has set to watch us.' I can't tell you how glad
I was that she had her reward on the same day. We were too late at the
station, and we had to wait for the next train. And what do you think
happened? The two scoundrels followed us instead of following Mrs.
Linley! They had inquired no doubt at the livery stables where we hired
the carriage--had recognized the description of us--and had taken the
long journey to London for nothing. Mrs. Presty and I shook hands at the
terminus the best friends that ever traveled together with the best of
motives. After that, I think I deserve another glass of wine."

"Go on with your story, and you shall have another bottle!" cried
Randal. "What did Catherine and the child do after they left you?"

"They did the safest thing--they left England. Mrs. Linley distinguished
herself on this occasion. It was her excellent idea to avoid popular
ports of departure, like Folkestone and Dover, which were sure to be
watched, and to get away (if the thing could be done) from some place on
the east coast. We consulted our guide and found that a line of steamers
sailed from Hull to Bremen once a week. A tedious journey from our part
of Cumberland, with some troublesome changing of trains, but they got
there in time to embark. My first news of them reached me in a telegram
from Bremen. There they waited for further instructions. I sent the
instructions by a thoroughly capable and trustworthy man--an Italian
courier, known to me by an experience of twenty years. Shall I confess
it? I thought I had done rather a clever thing in providing Mrs. Linley
with a friend in need while I was away from her."

"I think so, too," said Randal.

"Wrong, completely wrong. I had made a mistake--I had been too clever,
and I got my reward accordingly. You know how I advised Mrs. Linley?"

"Yes. You persuaded her, with the greatest difficulty, to apply for a
Divorce."

"Very well.