tanding, your education. I had no right to
do so. If my presence is, in your opinion, an outrage to your house,
I am ready to go now. I can face the street, the town; no one will
dare to stop me, if any were inclined."

"Be seated, Miss Splurge,--you are very welcome here. My
appreciation of the difference between your education and mine is as
kind as you could wish. This is a question of hearts,--and our hearts
have been always right, I hope; we are as woman to woman, and the
womanly part of either of us may still be trusted. Be seated,--I
have a word to say for myself"; and, as she spoke, Miss Wimple went
to her little bureau, and, unlocking a drawer, drew from it a
miniature rosewood cabinet; unlocking that, again, she took
something out, which, as she returned to resume her seat beside
Madeline, was hidden in her hand.

"Miss Splurge," said Miss Wimple, "the night on which you
disappeared so strangely from this place, I had been visiting a sick
friend on the other side of the river, and returned home at a late
hour,--that is, about nine o'clock, perhaps. As I entered the
covered bridge, I heard the voices of a lady and a gentleman in
excited conversation."

Madeline became deadly pale; but she did not speak, uttered no
exclamation,--only a slight movement of her eyebrows expressed
eagerness, as she turned more attentively to Miss Wimple, who
proceeded as though unconscious of any trace of emotion in her
companion.

"The voice of the gentleman was familiar to me; the lady's I did not,
at first, recognize,--something had changed its quality. Supposing
themselves alone,--for it was plain they had not heard me approach
and enter the bridge,--they were incautious; their words reached me
distinctly. I might have retraced my steps and waited till they had
gone; but the moon was shining brightly, and the night was very still,
--in a pause of their conversation they might have heard or seen me;
I chose to _spare_ them that. So I fell back into a corner, where the
shadows were deepest, and remained quite quiet until they went away.
I have told you that I heard their words; but I did not understand
them then;--now, I do."

Madeline bowed her head. Miss Wimple seemed not to observe that, but
continued in the same quiet, even tone:--

"When they had gone, I found, lying in the moonlight near the
bridge--this."

Miss Wimple held out the little pocket-book. Madeline started, made
a quick movement, as though to snatch th