elessly on his heel. "I wish I could take to that
fellow," he thought, "but I can't; he's such a sneak! What the deuce was
there to tremble about? Does he think I want to pry into his secrets?"

Mr. Bashwood's secret on this occasion concerned Allan more nearly than
Allan supposed. The letter which he had just placed in charge of
the guard was nothing less than a word of warning addressed to Mrs.
Oldershaw, and written by Miss Gwilt.

"If you can hurry your business" (wrote the major's governess) "do so,
and come back to London immediately. Things are going wrong here, and
Miss Milroy is at the bottom of the mischief. This morning she insisted
on taking up her mother's breakfast, always on other occasions taken up
by the nurse. They had a long confabulation in private; and half an hour
later I saw the nurse slip out with a letter, and take the path that
leads to the great house. The sending of the letter has been followed
by young Armadale's sudden departure for London--in the face of an
appointment which he had with me for to-morrow morning. This looks
serious. The girl is evidently bold enough to make a fight of it for the
position of Mrs. Armadale of Thorpe Ambrose, and she has found out some
way of getting her mother to help her. Don't suppose I am in the least
nervous or discouraged, and don't do anything till you hear from me
again. Only get back to London, for I may have serious need of your
assistance in the course of the next day or two.

"I send this letter to town (to save a post) by the midday train, in
charge of the guard. As you insist on knowing every step I take at
Thorpe Ambrose, I may as well tell you that my messenger (for I can't go
to the station myself) is that curious old creature whom I mentioned
to you in my first letter. Ever since that time he has been perpetually
hanging about here for a look at me. I am not sure whether I frighten
him or fascinate him; perhaps I do both together. All you need care to
know is that I can trust him with my trifling errands, and possibly, as
time goes on, with something more. L. G."

Meanwhile the train had started from the Thorpe Ambrose station, and the
squire and his traveling companion were on their way to London.

Some men, finding themselves in Allan's company under present
circumstances, might have felt curious to know the nature of his
business in the metropolis. Young Pedgift's unerring instinct as a man
of the world penetrated the secret without