to Blentmouth. He felt that he must
tell somebody, and borrow some conclusions--he was not equal to making
any of his own. He must carry the news.

He deceived himself and did gross injustice to the neighborhood.
Fillingford is but twelve miles inland from Blentmouth, and there are
three hours between eight and eleven. He was making for Fairholme. While
yet half a mile off he overtook Miss Swinkerton, heading in the same
direction, ostentatiously laden with savings-bank books. With much
decision she requested a lift, got in, and told him all about how Harry
had escorted Cecily and Madame Zabriska from Fillingford that morning.
The milkman had told the butcher, the butcher had told the postman, the
postman had told her, and--well, she had mentioned it to Mrs Trumbler.
Mrs Trumbler was at Fairholme now.

"Mr Tristram had been staying with you, of course? How nice to think
there's no feeling of soreness!" observed Miss S.

In Gainsborough at least there was no feeling save of bewilderment.

"Staying with us? No, I haven't so much as seen him," he stammered out.

Immediately Miss S. was upon him, and by the time they reached Fairholme
had left him with no more than a few rags of untold details. Then with
unrivalled effrontery she declared that she had forgotten to call at the
grocer's, and marched off. In an hour the new and complete version of
the affair was all over the town. Mrs Trumbler had got first to
Fairholme, but she did not wrest the laurels from Miss S.'s brow. The
mere departure from Fillingford shrank to nothing in comparison with the
attendant circumstances supplied by Mr Gainsborough.

"They don't know what to think at Fairholme," Mrs Trumbler reported.

"I dare say not, my dear," said Miss S. grimly.

"They were dining there that very night, and not a word was said about
it; and none of them saw Mr Tristram. He came quite suddenly, and went
off again with Lady Tristram."

"And Mina Zabriska, my dear."

Mina complicated the case. Those who were inclined to believe, against
all common-sense, that Cecily had eloped with her cousin--Why, in
heaven's name, elope, when you have all the power and a negligible
parent?--stumbled over Mina. Well then, was it with Mina Harry had
eloped? Miss S. threw out hints in this direction. Why then Cecily? Miss
S. was not at a loss. She said nothing, no; but if it should turn out
that Cecily's presence was secured as a protection against the wrath of
Major Duplay (who,