ppiness till her marriage. That's what made it seem so infinitely sad
that it lasted such a short time."

"I suppose," said the other slowly, "that they were married altogether
about seven months?"

"I fancy rather longer than that. She was quite well, or so she thought,
when she married. They travelled about for a while on the Continent, and
she told me once she enjoyed every minute of it! And then her health
began to give way, and they took this house at Redsands. They chose it
because Mr. Varick knew something of the doctor there--he didn't know
him very well, but they became very great friends, in fact such friends
that poor Milly left him a legacy--I think it was five hundred pounds.
Dr. Panton was most awfully good to her, but of course he hadn't the
slightest idea that she was leaving him anything. I never saw a man more
surprised than he was when I told him about it the day of her death.
Mr. Varick asked me to do so, and he was quite overcome."

She smiled. Five hundred pounds evidently did not seem very much to Miss
Brabazon.

"I suppose she had a good deal of money?"

The late Mrs. Varick's friend hesitated a moment, then answered at last,
"I think she had about twenty thousand pounds--at least I know that that
sum was mentioned in the _Times_ list of wills."

The other was startled--disagreeably startled. She had understood, from
something Lionel had said to her, that he now had five thousand a year.
"This place must be worth a good deal," she observed. She told herself
that perhaps the late Mrs. Varick had left twenty thousand pounds in
money, and that the bulk of her income had come from land.

"Yes, but unfortunately poor Milly couldn't leave Wyndfell Hall to Mr.
Varick. He only has a life interest in it."

Helen Brabazon spoke in a curiously decided way, as if she were used to
business.

Blanche was again very much surprised. She had certainly understood that
this wonderful old house and its very valuable contents belonged to
Lionel Varick absolutely. "Are you sure of that?" she began--and then
she stopped speaking, for her quick ears had detected the sound of an
opening and shutting door.

CHAPTER IV

After a few moments the five men sorted themselves among the ladies. Old
Mr. Burnaby and young Donnington went and sat by Bubbles, the
gloomy-looking James Tapster also finally sidling uncertainly towards
her. Sir Lyon civilly devoted himself to Miss Burnaby; and Lionel Varick
came ove