rning: the visitor stayed all day. When the
time came for Iris to yield, and he left the house no more, there
seemed to be no change. But still they continued their retired life,
and now I do not think they will ever change it again.

Their villa was situated on the north shore of the Solway Firth, close
to the outfall of the Annan River, but on the west bank, opposite to
the little town of Annan. At the back was a large garden, the front
looked out upon the stretch of sand at low tide and the water at high
tide. The house was provided with a good library. Iris attended to her
garden, walked on the sands, read, or worked. They were a quiet
household. Husband and wife talked little. They walked about in the
garden, his arm about her waist, or hand in hand. The past, if not
forgotten, was ceasing to trouble them; it seemed a dreadful, terrible
dream. It left its mark in a gentle melancholy which had never belonged
to Iris in the old days.

And then happened the last event which the chronicler of this history
has to relate.

It began in the morning with a letter.

Mrs. Vimpany received it. She knew the handwriting, started, and hid it
quickly in her bosom. As soon as she could get away to her own room she
opened and read it.

"Good and Tender Creature,--I ascertained, a good while ago, thinking
that probably I might have to make this kind of application to you,
where you were living and with whom. It was not difficult; I only had
to connect you with Mr. Hugh Mountjoy and to find out where he lived. I
congratulate you on being so well able to take care of yourself. You
are probably settled for life in a comfortable home. I feel as happy
about it as if I had myself contributed to thus satisfactory result.

"I have no intention of making myself more disagreeable than I am
obliged to do. Necessity, however, knows no law. You will understand me
when I tell you that I have spent all my money. I do not regret the
manner in which the money has been spent, but the fact that it has all
gone. This it is which cuts me to the heart.

"I have also discovered that the late lamented Lord Harry, whose death
I myself have the greatest reasons to deplore, played me a scurvy trick
in regard to certain sums of money. The amount for which he was insured
was not less than 15,000 pounds. The amount as he stated it to me was
only 4,000 pounds. In return for certain services rendered at a
particular juncture I was to receive the half of the