n, in the character of a cherished and forgiven man.

"Now, my angel!" he said (Phoebe sighed tenderly; he had never called
her his angel before), "tell me all about it in confidence. Only let
me know the facts, and I shall see my way to protecting you against
any annoyance from Mrs. Sowler in the future. You have made a very
extraordinary discovery. Come closer to me, my dear girl. Did it happen
in Farnaby's house?"

"I heard it in the kitchen," said Phoebe.

Jervy started. "Did any one else hear it?" he asked.

"No. They were all in the housekeeper's room, looking at the Indian
curiosities which her son in Canada had sent to her. I had left my bird
on the dresser--and I ran into the kitchen to put the cage in a safe
place, being afraid of the cat. One of the swinging windows in the
skylight was open; and I heard voices in the back room above, which is
Mrs. Farnaby's room."

"Whose voices did you hear?"

"Mrs. Farnaby's voice, and Mr. Goldenheart's."

"Mrs. Farnaby?" Jervy repeated, in surprise. "Are you sure it was
_Mrs.?"_

"Of course I am! Do you think I don't know that horrid woman's voice?
She was saying a most extraordinary thing when I first heard her--she
was asking if there was anything wrong in showing her naked foot. And a
man answered, and the voice was Mr. Goldenheart's. You would have felt
curious to hear more, if you had been in my place, wouldn't you? I
opened the second window in the kitchen, so as to make sure of not
missing anything. And what do you think I heard her say?"

"You mean Mrs. Farnaby?"

"Yes. I heard her say, 'Look at my right foot--you see there's nothing
the matter with it.' And then, after a while, she said, 'Look at my left
foot--look between the third toe and the fourth.' Did you ever hear of
such a audacious thing for a married woman to say to a young man?"

"Go on! go on! What did _he_ say?"

"Nothing; I suppose he was looking at her foot."

"Her left foot?"

"Yes. Her left foot was nothing to be proud of, I can tell you! By her
own account, she has some horrid deformity in it, between the third toe
and the fourth. No; I didn't hear her say what the deformity was. I only
heard her call it so--and she said her 'poor darling' was born with
the same fault, and that was her defence against being imposed upon by
rogues--I remember the very words--'in the past days when I employed
people to find her.' Yes! she said _'her.'_ I heard it plainly. And she
talked afterwards