u had forgotten again. Sir Hilton's gone
out."

"Gone out?"

This came like a volcanic burst through the calm envelope.

"Yes, my lady."

The eruption was checked, and the calm aspect closed up, as the bright
envelope of the sun eliminates a sun-spot at times.

"Has he--er--gone fishing with Master Sydney?"

"No, my lady; I didn't see, for I was doing your room. But he ordered
the dogcart, Mark said, and they've gone together."

"Where did Mark say they were going?"

Lady Lisle was losing her calmness at this check to her plans.

Jane was silent.

"Why do you not speak, girl?" came in sternly tragic tones.

"Please, my lady, I'd rather not."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to get a fellow-servant into trouble."

"Speak out at once, girl. No fellow-servant of yours will meet with
injustice while I am mistress of the Denes."

"Of course not, my lady."

"Tell me then, at once, what more Sir Hilton's groom and valet said."

"Well, my lady, if I must I must; but it wasn't Mark's fault."

"Certainly not. Go on."

"Mark said he thought they were going over to the races, but he was not
sure."

"H'm!" sighed Lady Lisle, and then to herself: "Tilborough--the
telegram--an excuse."

Jane backed towards the door, and had already taken the handle, when,
after a fierce internal struggle with the jealous rage within her, Lady
Lisle said in a slow, would-be careless way: "Did anyone call while I
was out?"

"Yes, my lady; Dr Granton."

"That was while I was away with the pony-carriage, Jane. I returned and
saw him."

"Of course; so you did, my lady."

"I meant since."

"Yes, my lady; after you'd gone in the b'rouche. Lady Tilborough came
on horseback."

"To call on me?"

"She asked for Sir Hilton, my lady."

"Ha!" ejaculated the jealous woman, through the envelope.

"But she said something, my lady," cried Jane, womanlike, grasping her
mistress's feelings and eager to put matters right. "Ah, what did she
say?" came like lightning.

"She said you wasn't at home, my lady, for she met you in the road."

"The brazen deception!" said Lady Lisle to herself. "A cloak of cunning
to try and hide her sin."

"She did not stop very long, my lady, but went off before I could get to
the door. I think she wanted to see Dr Granton."

"Of course," cried her mistress, with the calm envelope now rent to
tatters, and the agony of passion carrying all before it. "And what
then?"

Jane was silent.