."

Lesley stood confused, but pleased. And then the man lowered his voice
and spoke confidentially.

"There was a bit of a breeze this afternoon, just after you came in, I
think; but you mustn't suppose that we have trouble o' that sort every
Sunday, or week-day either. It was just one low, blackguardly fellow
that got in and wanted to make a disturbance. But he won't do it again,
for we'll have a meeting, and turn him out to-morrow. I would just like
you to understand, miss, that a good few of us in this here club would
pretty nigh lay down our lives for Mr. Brooke if he wanted them--for
myself I wouldn't even say 'pretty nigh,' for I'd do it in a jiffy.
He's helped to save some of us from worse than death, miss, and that's
why."

"Come, Jim Gregson," said a cheery voice behind him, "you get along home
to your tea. Time for shutting up just now. Good-bye."

And Caspar Brooke held out his hand for the workman to shake. He had
only just come up, and could not therefore have heard what Gregson was
saying; but Lesley preferred to turn away without meeting his eye. For
in truth her own were full of tears.

She broke away from the little group, and went into the library, as if
she wanted to inspect the books. But in reality she wanted a moment's
silence and loneliness in which to get rid of the swelling in her
throat, the tears in her eyes. These were caused partly by excitement,
partly by an expression of feeling brought to her by the earnestness of
Gregson's words, partly by penitence. And it was before she had well got
rid of them that Maurice Kenyon put his head into the room and found her
there.

"We are going now, Miss Brooke," he said. "Will you come? I--I hope I'm
not disturbing you--I----"

"I am just coming," said Lesley, dashing the tears from her face. "I am
quite ready."

"There is no hurry. You can let them go on first, if you like," said
Maurice, partly closing the door. Then, in the short pause that
followed, he advanced a little way into the room.

"Miss Brooke," he said, "I hope you will not mind my speaking to you
again; but I want to say that I wish--most humbly and with all my
heart--to beg your pardon. Will you forgive me?"

CHAPTER XV.

MAURICE KENYON'S APOLOGY.

Lesley stood irresolute. In the other room she heard the sound of voices
calling her own name. "We are just going, Lesley," she heard Mrs.
Romaine say. She made a hurried step towards the door.

"I can't stop," she s