ct.' Hearing this, of course, I felt the same delicacy
on my side. It was no part of my duty to intrude on the poor thing's
private sorrows; my only business was to do what I have now done, to
make sure that I was engaging a capable and respectable governess to
instruct my grandchild."

After careful consideration of these lines, Mrs. Milroy, having a
strong desire to find circumstances suspicious, found them suspicious
accordingly. She determined to sift the mystery of Miss Gwilt's family
misfortunes to the bottom, on the chance of extracting from it something
useful to her purpose. There were two ways of doing this. She might
begin by questioning the governess herself, or she might begin by
questioning the governess's reference. Experience of Miss Gwilt's
quickness of resource in dealing with awkward questions at their
introductory interview decided her on taking the latter course. "I'll
get the particulars from the reference first," thought Mrs. Milroy, "and
then question the creature herself, and see if the two stories agree."

The letter of inquiry was short, and scrupulously to the point.

Mrs. Milroy began by informing her correspondent that the state of her
health necessitated leaving her daughter entirely under the governess's
influence and control. On that account she was more anxious than most
mothers to be thoroughly informed in every respect about the person to
whom she confided the entire charge of an only child; and feeling this
anxiety, she might perhaps be excused for putting what might be thought,
after the excellent character Miss Gwilt had received, a somewhat
unnecessary question. With that preface, Mrs. Milroy came to the point,
and requested to be informed of the circumstances which had obliged Miss
Gwilt to go out as a governess.

The letter, expressed in these terms, was posted the same day. On the
morning when the answer was due, no answer appeared. The next morning
arrived, and still there was no reply. When the third morning came, Mrs.
Milroy's impatience had broken loose from all restraint. She had rung
for the nurse in the manner which has been already recorded, and had
ordered the woman to be in waiting to receive the letters of the morning
with her own hands. In this position matters now stood; and in these
domestic circumstances the new series of events at Thorpe Ambrose took
their rise.

Mrs. Milroy had just looked at her watch, and had just put her hand once
more to the bell-pul