ion with Dr. Edge, and whilst he was away Jane told her mother
the story of the lost money. At the end of an hour's talk, she went out
into the garden, where presently she was found by her brother, who had
walked back at his utmost pace, and wore a perturbed countenance.

"You haven't told yet?" were his first words, uttered in a breathless
undertone.

"Why?" asked Jane startled.

"I'm afraid of the result. Edge says that every sort of agitation must
be avoided."

"I have told her," said Jane, with quiet voice, but anxious look. "She
was grieved on your account, but it gave her no shock. Again and again
she said how glad she was you had let us know the truth."

"So far then, good."

"But Dr. Edge--what did he tell you?"

"He said he had wanted to see me, and thought of writing. Yes, he
speaks seriously."

They talked for a little, then Will went into the house alone, and
found his mother as she sat in her wonted place, the usual needlework
on her lap. As he crossed the room, she kept her eyes upon him in a
gaze of the gentlest reproach, mingled with a smile, which told the
origin of Will's wholesome humour.

"And you couldn't trust me to take my share of the trouble?"

"I knew only too well," replied her son, "that your own share wouldn't
content you."

"Greedy mother!--Perhaps you were right, Will. I suppose I should have
interfered, and made everything worse for you; but you needn't have
waited quite so long before telling me. The one thing that I can't
understand is Mr. Sherwood's behaviour. You had always given me such a
different idea of him. Really, I don't think he ought to have been let
off so easily."

"Oh, poor old Godfrey! What could he do? He was sorry as man could be,
and he gave me all the cash he could scrape together--"

"I'm glad he wasn't a friend of mine," said Mrs. Warburton. "In all my
life, I have never quarrelled with a friend, but I'm afraid I must have
fallen out with Mr. Sherwood. Think of the women who entrust their all
to men of that kind, and have no strong son to save them from the
consequences."

After the mid-day meal all sat together for an hour or two in the
garden. By an evening train, Will returned to London. Jane had promised
to let him have frequent news, and during the ensuing week she wrote
twice with very favourable accounts of their mother's condition. A
month went by without any disquieting report, then came a letter in
Mrs. Warburton's own hand.

"My dear