a bow!'

'Who is Clement Arkwright?' asked Elfie.

Clare laughed.

'One of Gwen's old admirers. He has too much of her self-will and
dogged pride to pull with her. Do you remember, Agatha, how we used to
enjoy their wordy combats? I always thought that at the bottom of all
her antagonism to him she really liked him; but she never would allow
it.'

'I dare say he wonders at her going out alone,' said Agatha musingly;
'she does not say where he is going. I remember he had a great idea of
shielding women from the brunt of life, as he used to call it, and that
was one thing that Gwen could not stand.'

'What more does she say?' asked Clare.

'Not much. She says she means to study farming while she is away, and
hopes to get valuable hints from Mr. Montmorency, who seems to be a
perfect mine of information.'

'One of Gwen's sudden friendships!' observed Clare. 'I only hope it
will last out the voyage!'

She left the room and went to the study, where she spent the rest of
the morning in trying to copy Mr. Lester's carving on the cupboard.
She was very fond of this occupation, and had decorated several little
tables and stools. She found Mr. Lester's handiwork a great help to
her, and was ambitious of designing a cupboard herself, very much after
the pattern of the study one.

As she was tracing a part of the delicate border edging the panels, she
suddenly started, and the thought flashed across her:--

'It must be one of these buds that contains the secret of the lock or
spring, and that is the meaning of the words:--

'"A closed bud containeth
Possibilities infinite and unknown."'

She passed her fingers over some thick buds that hung in festoons along
the border, and then with finger and thumb she tried to move each one
in succession. At last one began to revolve; she turned it
breathlessly, and after three or four revolutions, a sharp click, and
then the panel opened.

For one minute Clare stayed her hand--irresolute. She had discovered
the secret, and the contents of the cupboard would be before her eyes.

Surprise, delight, and a little dismay were mingled in the discovery.
Stories that Jane had told her of the mysterious cupboard that some
thought contained proofs of a crime, came to her mind. The remembrance
of the owner's express wish that it should remain locked, made her
hesitate.

It was a battle between intense curiosity and the sense of honour; but
the latter prevailed. Clare