bag; she was smiling again by
now. I had smiled myself--my memories being so acutely touched; but she
must have smiled for discernment, not for memory.

"Now I think I should like to go and see him."

Cartmell excused himself, as I knew he would.

"I've never seen him, that I can remember, you know," she said.

The meeting of the Catsford Corporation (the town had become a borough
ten years before--largely owing to Mr. Driver's efforts) could not wait.
But Cartmell had one thing to say before he went; it was not on
business, nor arising out of the letter; he was to have a full business
discussion with her on the morrow. He took her hand in both of his and
pressed it--forgetful apparently of her sharp rebuke.

"You can't live in this great house all alone," he said. "I wonder your
father said nothing about that!"

"Oh, that's all right. Chat's coming in a week. She'd have come with me,
but Mrs. Simpson wouldn't let her go till a new governess could be got.
Four girls, you see, and Mrs. Simpson thinks she's an invalid. Besides,
Chat wouldn't come without a new black silk dress. So I had to give her
most of that money--and she'll be here in a week--and I haven't got a
new dress."

I noticed that her black dress was far from new. It was, in fact, rather
rusty. Her black straw hat, however, appeared to be new. It was a large
spreading sort of hat.

"Yes, Mr. Austin, the hat's new," she remarked.

The girl seemed to have a knack of noticing where one's eyes happened to
be.

"I can give you lots of money," Cartmell assured her. "And--er--'Chat'
was governess at the Simpsons', was she?"

"Yes, she's been there for years, but she's very fond of me, and agreed
to come and be my companion. She taught me all I know. I'm sure you'll
like Chat."

"You can only try her," said he, rather doubtfully. I think that he
would have preferred, Miss Driver, to cut loose from the old days
altogether. "But, you know, we can't call her just 'Chat.' It must be
short for something?"

"Short for Chatters--Miss Chatters. And she says Chatters is really--or
was really--Charteris. That's pronounced Charters, isn't it?" She
addressed the last question to me, and I said that I believed she was
right. "I shall get on very well by myself till she comes." She
questioned me again. "Do you live in the house?"

"No, I live down at the Old Priory. But I have my office in the house."

"Oh, yes. Now, if Mr. Cartmell must go, will you take me u