certaining that no blame rests
with the church, interrogates, and is satisfied. The rector's wife is
not so easy to deal with. She has looked at the signatures in the book.
One of the names is familiar to her. She cross-examines the clerk as
soon as her husband is done with him. When she hears of the coronet on
the handkerchief she points to the signature of "Louisa Winwood," and
says to the rector, "I know who it is! Lord Winwood's second wife. I
went to school with his lordship's daughters by his first marriage. We
occasionally meet at the Sacred Concerts (on the 'Ladies' Committee');
I shall find an opportunity of speaking to them. One moment, Mr.
Jenkinson, I will write down the names before you put away the book.
'Launcelot Linzie,' 'Natalie Graybrooke.' Very pretty names; quite
romantic. I do delight in a romance. Good-morning."

She gives the curate a parting smile, and the clerk a parting nod, and
sails out of the vestry. Natalie, silently returning in Lady Winwood's
company to Muswell Hill; and Launce, cursing the law of Abduction as he
roams the streets--little think that the ground is already mined under
their feet. Richard Turlington may hear of it now, or may hear of
it later. The discovery of the marriage depends entirely on a chance
meeting between the lord's daughters and the rector's wife.

SEVENTH SCENE.

The Evening Party.

---------------------------------------------------- MR. TURLINGTON,

LADY WINWOOD At Home.

Wednesday, December 15th.--Ten o'clock.
----------------------------------------------------

"Dearest Natalie--As the brute insists, the brute must have the
invitation which I inclose. Never mind, my child. You and Launce are
coming to dinner, and I will see that you have your little private
opportunities of retirement afterward. All I expect of you in return is,
_not_ to look (when you come back) as if your husband had been kissing
you. You will certainly let out the secret of those stolen kisses, if
you don't take care. At mamma's dinner yesterday, your color (when you
came out of the conservatory) was a sight to see. Even your shoulders
were red! They are charming shoulders, I know, and men take the
strangest fancies sometimes. But, my dear, suppose you wear a chemisette
next time, if you haven't authority enough over him to prevent his doing
it again!

"Your affectionate LOUISA."

The private history of the days that had passed since the marriage was
written in that