ures within four miles, and
from these Stephen and Morris must apparently be eliminated."

"Why should Morris be eliminated?"

"A reason may occur to you."

"Do you mean because he is engaged? What on earth does that matter?"

"Nothing--in the East--but, rightly or wrongly, we have decided upon a
monogamous system; a man can't marry two wives, Miss Layard."

"But he can throw over one girl to marry another."

"Do you suggest that Morris is contemplating this experiment?"

"I? I suggest nothing; all I know is----"

"Well, now, what do you know?"

"If you wish me to tell you, as perhaps I ought, I know this, Colonel
Monk, that the other night, when I was driving along the Rectory road,
I saw your son, Mr. Monk, kissing this wonderful Miss Fregelius; that is
all, and Stephen saw it also, you ask him."

"Thank you; I think I would rather not. But what an odd place for him to
choose for this interchange of early Christian courtesies! Also--if you
are not mistaken--how well it illustrates that line in the hymn this
morning:

"'How many a spot defiles the robe that wraps an earthly saint.'

Such adventures seem scarcely in Morris's line, and I should have
thought that even an inexperienced saint would have been more discreet."

"Men always jest at serious things," said Eliza severely.

"Which do you mean--the saints or the kissing? Both are serious enough,
but the two in combination----"

"Don't you believe me?" asked Eliza.

"Of course. But could you give me a few details?"

Eliza could and did--with amplifications.

"Now, what do you say, Colonel Monk?" she asked triumphantly.

"I say that I think you have made an awkward mistake, Miss Layard. It
seems to me that all you saw is quite consistent with the theory that he
was buttoning or arranging the young lady's hood. I understand that the
wind was very high that night."

Eliza started; this was a new and unpleasant interpretation which she
hastened to repudiate. "Arranging her hood, indeed----"

"When he might have been kissing her? You cannot understand such
moderation. Still, it is possible, and he ought to have the benefit of
the doubt. Witnesses to character would be valuable in such a case, and
his--not to mention the lady's--is curiously immaculate."

"Of course you are entitled to your own opinion, but I have mine."

Suddenly the Colonel changed his bantering, satirical tone, and became
stern and withering.

"Miss Layard," he said, "does i