that!" Her sobbing again broke the
silence of the great empty house.

CHAPTER XV

IN THE DOCK

She had gone--and we, her friends, were left to make the best of the
situation.

It proved, indeed, easy enough to deal with Powers; the police court was
not to be added to our troubles! The man was thoroughly frightened and
shaken; confronted with the suggestion that Octon might well return in a
few days, he was eager to hide himself. Cartmell took advantage of his
mood and pared down his money cruelly; he took what he could get--no
doubt he had been well paid from Fillingford Manor--and within two days
was out of Catsford with all his belongings. There, one might well hope,
was an end of Powers; even Jenny would not call him back again!

But an end of Powers did not much mend matters; even the fact that
Jenny's engagement to Fillingford had not been formally announced failed
to assist them to any great extent. The engagement had been a subject of
general speculation, confidently foretold and almost daily expected. Now
the subject of common talk was very different. Jenny was gone, Octon was
gone. So far, perhaps, little. One might return, the other had, no
doubt, good reasons for departure. But there were witnesses of their
departure together, and of circumstances which made it look strange.
Alison the Rector was one of these--a friendly unimpeachable witness. He
had been seeing two lads off to London--former members of his choir who
had returned to pay a visit to old friends--and he told Cartmell (he did
not speak to me, nor, I believe, to anybody but Cartmell) how he had
seen Jenny come hurriedly on to the platform; she was veiled, but her
face was easily to be distinguished, and her bearing alone would have
caused her to be recognized. She stood for a moment looking about her,
then caught sight of Octon's tall figure by the bookstall. She went
straight up to him. He turned with a start. "The man's face when he saw
her was a wonder," said Alison. They talked a little, then walked to the
train. Octon spoke to the guard and gave him money. The guard put them
into a compartment and turned the key. No sign of companion, maid,
footman, or even luggage, appertaining to Jenny! Did Miss Driver of
Breysgate Priory travel by night to London in that fashion?

What he had seen others saw--both Jenny and Octon were well known in
Catsford--and others were less reticent than the Rector. When no
announcement was made of Jenn