you tell me? Do you think that I would
betray him? Why didn't you let me know? How long has he been home? Oh,
please let me go to him!"

Father and daughter looked at one another in confusion.

"I intended to tell you, Miss Dundas, after I had asked my son's
permission. You see, we are all in league with him here. If the police
got an inkling of his presence in the house, it would be very awkward."

"I don't think Dick would like to see you just now," interjected Netty.
"You see, he's ill--he's very ill, and much broken."

"Now that you know he is here," interposed the rector, "there can be no
objection to your seeing him. I must first inform him of your
coming--that he may be prepared. I'm sure he will be glad to see you."

The rector escaped to fulfil a difficult and painful mission. He had
almost forgotten the existence of his son's sweetheart, and was only
conscious that she added to the troubles of an already trying situation.
The noble fellow, who was prepared to take the burden of his mother's
sin, would certainly find it hard to justify himself in the eyes of the
woman he loved. And, if he set himself right in Dora's eyes, that would
mean--? He trembled to think what it would mean.

Dora and Netty, in the study, maintained an unnatural reserve, in which
there was silent antagonism. Dora relieved the situation by a
commonplace.

"You must be overjoyed, Netty, to have your brother back again."

"Overjoyed!" exclaimed Netty, with a shrug. "I'm likely to lose a
husband. A disgraced brother is a poor exchange."

"You don't mean to say that Harry Bent would be so mean as to withdraw
because your brother--"

"Oh, yes, say it--because my brother is a criminal. I don't pity him, and
you'll find your father less lenient than mine. All thought of an
engagement between you and Dick is now, of course, absurd."

"That is for Dick to decide," said Dora, quietly. But there was a
horrible sinking at her heart, and tears came to her eyes. She walked to
the window to hide her emotion from unsympathetic eyes. She almost hated
Netty. Everyone seemed to be conspiring to overthrow her idol. They would
not give her half a chance of believing him innocent. She positively
quaked at the prospect of hearing from Dick's own lips his version of the
story.

When the clergyman came down, he entered with bowed head and haggard
face, like a beaten man. He signed to Netty that he wished to be alone
with Dora, and, when the girl was