I should not care about Uncle or Mr. Heming; but as for Miss
Laniston,--that is the lady who is visiting us,--I would not have her
see me doing this for anything in the world. She hates the House of
Martha, although she used to be one of its friends, and I know that she
would like to see me leave the sisterhood. She ridicules us whenever she
has a chance, and to see me here would be simply nuts to her."

"Is she a bad-tempered lady?" I asked. "Do you know her very well? Could
you trust her in regard to anything important?"

"Oh, I know her well enough," said Sylvia. "She has always been a friend
of the family. She is wonderfully well educated, and knows everything
and has never married, and travels all about by herself, and is just as
independent as she can be. She has very strong opinions about things,
and doesn't hesitate to tell you them, no matter whether she thinks you
like it or not. I have no doubt she is perfectly trustworthy and
honorable, and all that; but if you knew her, I do not think you would
like her, and you can easily see why I shouldn't want her to see me
doing this. It would give her a chance for no end of sneers at the work
of the sisters."

"Has she never said anything about your acting as my amanuensis?" I
asked.

"No, indeed," replied Sylvia. "You may be sure she never heard of that,
or she would have made fun enough of it."

It was impossible for me to allow this dear girl to remain longer in
ignorance of the true state of affairs.

"Miss Raynor," I said,--how I longed to say "Sylvia"!--"I am ashamed
that I have allowed you to remain as long as this under a
misunderstanding, but in truth I did not understand the case myself. I
did not know that the lady of this house was your mother, but I have met
her, and have been kindly entertained by her. I did not know Miss
Laniston's name, but I have also met her, and talked to her about you,
and she knows you used to write for me, and I do not like her."

Sylvia answered not a word, but, as she sat and looked at me with
wide-open eyes, I told her what had happened since my companion and I
had landed at Racket Island. I omitted only my confidences to Mother
Anastasia and Miss Laniston.

"Mother Anastasia has been here," repeated Sylvia, "and she never told
me! That surpasses all. And mother never mentioned that you had been
here, nor did any one." She gazed steadfastly upon the ground, a little
pale, and presently she said, "I think I understand