TER.

Scarfe descended to the drawing-room, where he found Mrs Rimbolt alone.

"I am so sorry you are going," said she. "Your visit has been greatly
spoiled, I fear. You must come to us at Easter, when we shall be in
London, you know."

"Thank you; I shall be glad to come. I hope to find Percy well again.
I went to wish him good-bye just now, but was pretty abruptly denied
admission, so I must ask you to say good-bye for me."

"Dear me, it is very annoying. I cannot understand the craze the boy
has taken for this companion of his. I am so sorry you should have been
annoyed."

"I assure you I am far more annoyed on Percy's account than my own. I
happen to know something of Jeffreys before he came to Wildtree. To
tell you the truth, Mrs Rimbolt, I don't think he is a safe companion
for Percy at all."

"I have long felt the same; but what is to be done, Mr Scarfe? Mr
Rimbolt has almost the same craze as Percy for this librarian of his,
and I have really no voice in the matter. He contrives to leave nothing
definite to lay hold of; I should be thankful if he did. But it is most
uncomfortable to feel that one's own son is perhaps being ruined under
this roof."

"It must be. It is no business of mine, of course, except that I am
fond of Percy, and should be sorry to see harm come to him; and knowing
what I do--"

At that moment Mr Rimbolt, with Mrs Scarfe, entered the room.

"What secrets are you two talking?" said the latter.

"Your son was just telling me how fond he is of Percy; and I am sure it
will be a great loss to Percy when he is gone. He has promised me to
come to see us in town at Easter."

"It is a satisfaction that you can leave with the assurance that Percy
is virtually well again," said Mr Rimbolt. "Really, I do not know how
we should have got on without Mr Jeffreys to nurse him. I never knew
such devotion. He has never wanted for a thing all the time; and
Jeffreys' influence is of the highest and manliest sort. Percy will be
able to reckon this illness among the blessings of his life."

Mr Rimbolt spoke feelingly and warmly.

Scarfe and Mrs Rimbolt exchanged glances; and the conversation shortly
afterwards turned to the journey before the travellers.

Scarfe had come down to the drawing-room resolved, cost what it would,
to settle scores with Jeffreys there and then by denouncing him to the
family on whose favour he was dependent; and had Mr Rimbolt's entrance
been delayed a f