f him."

"Thank God!" said Mrs. Vanstone, fervently. "Did you feel it, love?"
she asked, as her husband arranged the sofa pillows--"did you feel it as
painfully as I feared you would?"

"I had a duty to do, my dear--and I did it."

After replying in those terms, he hesitated. Apparently, he had
something more to say--something, perhaps, on the subject of that
passing uneasiness of mind which had been produced by his interview
with Mr. Clare, and which Magdalen's questions had obliged him to
acknowledge. A look at his wife decided his doubts in the negative. He
only asked if she felt comfortable; and then turned away to leave the
room.

"Must you go?" she asked.

"I have a letter to write, my dear."

"Anything about Frank?"

"No: to-morrow will do for that. A letter to Mr. Pendril. I want him
here immediately."

"Business, I suppose?"

"Yes, my dear--business."

He went out, and shut himself into the little front room, close to the
hall door, which was called his study. By nature and habit the most
procrastinating of letter-writers, he now inconsistently opened his desk
and took up the pen without a moment's delay. His letter was long enough
to occupy three pages of note-paper; it was written with a readiness
of expression and a rapidity of hand which seldom characterized his
proceedings when engaged over his ordinary correspondence. He wrote the
address as follows: "Immediate--William Pendril, Esq., Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn, London"--then pushed the letter away from him, and sat
at the table, drawing lines on the blotting-paper with his pen, lost in
thought. "No," he said to himself; "I can do nothing more till Pendril
comes." He rose; his face brightened as he put the stamp on the
envelope. The writing of the letter had sensibly relieved him, and his
whole bearing showed it as he left the room.

On the doorstep he found Norah and Miss Garth, setting forth together
for a walk.

"Which way are you going?" he asked. "Anywhere near the post-office? I
wish you would post this letter for me, Norah. It is very important--so
important that I hardly like to trust it to Thomas, as usual."

Norah at once took charge of the letter.

"If you look, my dear," continued her father, "you will see that I am
writing to Mr. Pendril. I expect him here to-morrow afternoon. Will you
give the necessary directions, Miss Garth? Mr. Pendril will sleep here
to-morrow night, and stay over Sunday.--Wait a minute! Today is Frid