un all sorts of risks of being found out, and
then I don't know what they mightn't do to her!"

"I don't see that they could do much, my dear, unless perhaps they
prosecuted her for obtaining the place with a false character, which I
suppose she must have done. Still it required no ordinary pluck for a
woman to undertake such a scheme, and it will require patience and
nerve to carry it through; but I don't know that I agree with you that
she is not the sort of woman I should have thought capable of
undertaking such a business. She was quiet enough when we met her in
the town; but I believe from what I have heard that she was a
high-spirited girl, and when we saw her, you know, she was on the eve
of parting with her son. As she was evidently wrapped up in him, that
would of course make her more quiet and silent than usual. I thought
she bore up remarkably well, and admired the effort she made to
prevent any display of her feeling marring the pleasant time we were
having in London."

"But how about Mabel, James? Had we better tell her about this? You
see, if she happens to meet Mrs. Conway she might betray her
secret--might run up and address her by her name."

"That is certainly a difficulty, my dear; and I don't quite know what
to do about it. What do you think yourself?"

"I think we had better postpone the matter, James, by sending Mabel
away for a bit. You know my sister has asked her several times to go
and stay with her on a visit at Bath. We have never cared to let her
go away from us; but I do think now that it will be a good thing for
me to write to Harriet, and tell her that if it will be convenient for
her to take Mabel, we shall be glad to send her to her for a few
months in order that she may take lessons in French and music. There
are, of course, plenty of good masters there. In that way we shall get
rid of the necessity for speaking to Mabel about it at all, and I
should think it likely that Mrs. Conway would have left the Hall long
before she returns."

"Perhaps she will, my dear, though I would not count upon that too
much. I imagine that as Mrs. Conway has had nerve and courage enough
to propose and so far carry out this singular plan of hers, she will
have resolution enough to continue to play her part till she either
finds the will, or becomes thoroughly convinced that it is absolutely
not to be found."

And so Mrs. Withers wrote to her sister, and ten days later Mr.
Withers started with Mabel