aid nothing, but held out his hand, and Agatha took it,
feeling strangely drawn to him. They shook hands, and then, as Mr.
Lester stepped out into the verandah, he turned.

'Remember your promise, and offer a prayer sometimes for a disappointed
old man who fears he won't live to see his hopes fulfilled.'

He disappeared in the fast-falling twilight, and Agatha sat in her
chair, gazing before her as if in a dream. Her sisters found her
strangely preoccupied when they returned; but when they were enjoying a
cold supper together, and the maids were out of the room, she told them
of her strange visitor, begging them to say nothing of it to any one,
and purposely omitting to tell them of the envelope entrusted to her.

'Are you perfectly certain he was genuine?' said Gwen anxiously. 'It
was a very risky thing to let him have sole possession of the study!
Why did you not offer to stay in the room with him?'

'How could I? He locked himself in!'

'Worse and worse! He might have been taking impressions of the locks,
and will break into the house another night by the study window!'

Agatha shook her head with a confident smile. 'He was a gentleman, and
had a true face; I am not at all afraid of him.'

'It is quite an adventure,' said Clare, flushing up with excitement.
'Now, what do you think he wanted to get at in the cupboard? Is it a
treasure store, or does it hide some ghastly secret? I really think I
should have peeped through the key-hole, and seen how he opened it. It
would have been such an opportunity.'

'Did you dismiss him with a tract?' asked Gwen mockingly.

'No, I had not one by me,' said Agatha simply. 'I feel very sorry for
him. He is in great trouble about his son.'

'And you are sure he does not want to come back and turn us out? It
would be very awkward if he did.'

'He seemed quite certain on that point.'

Gwen heaved a sigh of relief. 'I think I will tell you what I purpose
doing, she said rather solemnly; 'or shall I put it off till to-morrow?'

'"'Tis the Sabbath,"' quoted Elfie, mimicking old Deb Howitt's tones.

'If it is anything startling, I would rather you kept it till
to-morrow,' said Agatha; 'I have had quite enough to startle me
already.'

'Oh, very well,' responded Gwen unconcernedly; 'my news will keep.'

But she was disappointed that no one seemed curious enough to press her
for more information, and the next day, after working hard all the
morning in the garden,