everybody knew, hated Harry), she, Miss S., would be
less surprised than many of those who conceived themselves to know
everything. A Cecily party and a Mina party grew up--and a third party,
who would have none of either, and declared that they had their own
ideas, and that time would show.

Gossip raged, and old Mr Neeld sat in the middle of the conflagration.
How his record of evasion, nay, of downright falsehood, mounted up!
False facts and fictitious reasons flowed from his lips. There was
pathos in the valor with which he maintained his position; he was hard
pressed, but he did not fall. There was a joy too in the fight. For he
alone of all Blentmouth knew the great secret, and guessed that what was
happening had to do with the secret. Harry had asked silence for a week;
before two days of it were gone came this news.

"If they do mean to be married," said Janie, "why couldn't they do it
decently?" She meant with the respectable deliberation of her own
alliance.

"Tristram's a queer fellow," pondered Bob Broadley.

"I only hope he isn't rushing her into it--on purpose. What do you
think, Mr Neeld?"

"My dear Janie----"

"He may not want to give her time to think. It's not a good match for
her now, is it?"

"I--I can't think that Harry Tristram would----"

"Well, Neeld," said Iver judicially, "I'm not so sure. Master Harry can
play a deep game when he likes. I know that very well--and to my cost
too."

What Janie hinted and Iver did not discard was a view which found some
supporters; and where it was entertained, poor Mina Zabriska's character
was gone. Miss S. herself was all but caught by the idea, and went so
far as to say that she had never thought highly of Madame Zabriska,
while the Major was known to be impecunious. There was a nefariousness
about the new suggestion that proved very attractive in Blentmouth.

Late in the day came fresh tidings, new fuel for the flames. Mr
Gainsborough had driven again into Blentmouth and taken the train for
London. Two portmanteaus and a wicker-crate, plausibly conjectured to
contain between them all his worldly possessions, had accompanied him on
the journey. He was leaving Blent then, if not for ever, at least for a
long while. He had evaded notice in his usual fashion, and nearly driven
over Miss S. when she tried to get in the way. Miss S. was partly
consoled by a bit of luck that followed. She met Mina's cook, come down
from Merrion to buy household stores