that," said Gertrude, "and, of course, we
don't mean to remind him."

"Why not?"

"Because he is not to be trusted at present," said Andrew.

A quick flush irradiated Jean's clear face.

"He _is_ to be trusted. He is to be trusted far more than ever before in
his life!"

The three counselors exchanged glances.

"We know better than you do," said Mrs. Ramornie severely.

But Jean was not easily to be quelled.

"I think it will be a perfect shame if you allow father to forget his
engagement," she protested.

Her eldest sister's face grew more like Andrew's than ever.

"He must _not_ come home at present, and we trust that Andrew will do
his duty and not permit him to stay in London."

"Andrew!" exclaimed Jean. "How can he prevent him?"

Their brother hung back no longer.

"I shall go up to London to-morrow morning," he announced.

"Splendid!" cried Gertrude.

He looked at her coldly.

"I do not propose to do anything ridiculous. If I can get him to go to
some place in the south of England and stop for a month or two, that
will be quite sufficient; and I do not propose, either, to wear any
other clothes than what I've got at present."

Having thus asserted his independence of conduct and apparel, he turned
again to Jean.

"That is what we have decided," he said.

She jumped up, her lip quivering a little. Then she controlled herself,
and as she left the room only said quietly--

"Thank you for telling me."

The council was then able to conclude its deliberations without further
interruption.

CHAPTER VIII

After dinner that night, Andrew found Mrs. Dunbar alone in the
drawing-room, and immediately turned to withdraw.

"Are you not going to have coffee, Andrew?" she asked.

There was something different in her manner; something almost nervous;
something apparently less hostile. Andrew glanced at her suspiciously.
What new move in her diabolical game did this signify?

"I've got letters to write," he answered coldly, and shut the door
decisively behind him.

The fair widow sighed, and again picked up a letter lying in her lap and
looked at it unhappily. She had kept her word and written to Charlie
Munro, and unfortunately Heriot had forgotten to warn him that his
answer to any such communication must be exceedingly discreet. No wonder
she seemed distressed.

Naturally, the junior partner gave his fair enemy no information
regarding his movements. She saw him leave in the morning