decidedly.

"Then," said Father Dormer, "your best plan will be to ask C to release
you from your promise."

Trix started.

"Oh, but--" she began. She shook her head. "I don't believe he would ever
release me," she said.

"You could ask him, anyhow," said Father Dormer.

"Yes, I could," replied Trix doubtfully.

"Try that first," he suggested. "It is the simplest plan."

"Yes," said Trix still doubtfully.

Of course it sounded the simplest plan to Father Dormer, but then he had
not the remotest idea of what the secret was, nor whom it concerned.

"You see," said Trix thoughtfully, "he knows A's secret too; at least, I
feel sure he does."

"Perhaps," smiled Father Dormer, "it is not quite such a secret as you
imagine."

"Oh, yes, it is," nodded Trix. "It is the most complicated affair that
ever was, and the most extraordinary. Nobody would believe it if they
didn't know." She sighed.

Father Dormer watched her. He saw that she evidently did consider it a
complicated situation, though, in spite of her rather complicated
explanation it had appeared quite simple to him. At all events, the
solution had. It had not even--as soon as he had grasped the question she
had come to ask--appeared to involve much difficulty of answering. It was
quite obvious she ought not to run the risk of telling lies (he could
guess that her honesty would make it exceedingly difficult for her to
evade any awkward questions without telling them), mainly because it was
never right to tell lies, but also because the smallest white
one--so-called--would appear extremely black to Trix.

"Is that settled now?" he asked.

"Oh, yes," said Trix. She looked at her watch. "I've two hours; I had
better do it at once." Then she stopped suddenly. "Oh, Father!" she
exclaimed.

"Well?" he queried.

"You didn't guess, did you?"

"How could I?" he asked smiling.

"Oh, because saying that told you that C lived here."

He laughed. "My dear child, when you arrive at Woodleigh one day, and ask
me a rather complicated question the next, it is perfectly obvious it is
one which has to be settled in this neighbourhood, and at once. I could
hardly imagine you have travelled down here on purpose to consult me; or
that, if it were a question to be settled in town, you would not wait
till your return to consult some other priest on the subject."

Trix smiled.

"I never thought of that," she owned. "But, of course, it is quite
obvious. Only I am so