ell; there was no occasion for you to notice
them. And in your place, I may add, I should not bother about seeing
people--quite so, quite so--you were not thinking of such a thing, of
course not,--you will just keep quiet, and let us say what has to be
said. What I mean is," as he caught a bewildered look, "money matters
are not in your line, and at such a time as this less than ever. Don't
mention them. Don't know anything about them. _I_ will tell people all
they need to know----"

"But--but do they need to know at all?"

"Certainly not," said General Boldero, promptly. No answer could have
pleased him better. "They see you return, very properly, to the home of
your childhood, where in future I shall provide for you," he gulped in
his throat, and drew the rug further over his knees, but continued; "so
that it is nobody's business how you are left by--by your husband."

"Godfrey never knew," murmured she.

"Ahem!" escaped the general.

"Mr. Jonas is afraid he had some anxiety," continued Leonore, bravely;
"but he had told some one only the day before--before he died, that he
hoped things were going to pull round all right."

"They all think that. But," proceeded her father, curbing the momentary
snap, "we need not distress ourselves by entering into details about
which I am as ignorant as you. I never thought a business man
_could_--however, leave it. What we have to do is to bolster up his
memory, to prevent nasty things being said of him--in short, to keep our
neighbours in the dark as to the real state of affairs, for if they
knew, they would certainly think it disgraceful."

The word was out and he felt the better for it.

Leonore started, and held her breath.

"Aye, disgraceful," resumed her father with increasing emphasis. "I fear
I must say it, and there's not a person who if he knew all that I know,
would not join me in saying it. But Godfrey Stubbs was your husband,
and----"

"And they shan't dare to speak a word against him--oh, they shan't--they
shall not,"--with a face of fire she turned towards him, "and, father,
you can't and you mustn't, either; Godfrey----" but she could speak no
more for sobbing.

"You shall protect his memory, Leonore."

And when the carriage drew up beneath the Abbey portico, General Boldero
felt that he had accomplished the object for which he had met his
daughter, and met her alone.

CHAPTER III.

SPECULATIONS.

"I saw old Brown-boots Boldero at the stat