r behind her back."

"For mercy's sake, sir, stop," said the woman, eagerly. "It is only to
spare her that I ask it! It isn't that she is to blame--no, no, I don't
mean that; but she is in more danger than she knows."

Caspar's hand fell from the bell rope. His face had turned a trifle
pale, and his brows looked very stern.

"Tell me exactly what you mean. I do not wish to listen to anything that
Miss Lesley has not intended me to hear. I have perfect faith in her."

"Faith in her! She's one of the sweetest and truest-hearted ladies I
ever came across," said Mary Trent, indignantly; "but she may be on the
brink of a precipice without knowing it. Sir, what I mean is this. Mr.
Oliver Trent is in love with Miss Lesley, and is doing his best to get
her to run off with him. Yes, I know what you want to say--that she
would never do such a thing--but one cannot always say what a girl will
do under pressure; and, believe me or not as you please, Oliver Trent is
ready to throw over Miss Kenyon at any moment for the sake of your
daughter, Mr. Brooke."

"Do you know what you are saying?" thundered Caspar, now white to the
lips. "Do you know what an aspersion you are casting on my daughter's
character? Are you aware that Miss Kenyon's marriage with Mr. Trent is
to take place to-morrow morning? Your remarks are perfectly
unjustifiable--unless you are in ignorance of the facts of the case."

"I know all, and yet I warn you," said Mrs. Trent, perfectly unmoved by
this burst of anger. "I tell you what I have seen and heard for myself.
And I know Oliver Trent only too well. It was Oliver Trent who betrayed
my only sister, and brought her to a miserable death. She was a good
girl until she met him. He ruined her, and he had no scruples. He will
have more outward respect to Miss Lesley and Miss Kenyon, but he is no
more scrupulous about using his power, when he has any, than he was
then."

"After making this accusation you must not be surprised if I ask what
grounds you have for it," said Mr. Brooke.

He was calm enough to all appearance now, but even Mrs. Trent, not very
observant by nature, could tell that he was very much disturbed. For
answer, she proceeded to describe the scene that had taken place in the
very room in which they now stood, on the preceding Saturday night.

"I saw him follow Miss Lesley into this room," she explained. "And I'd
seen enough to make me fearful of what he was going to do or say. You
know there a