eave Miss Kenyon for a longer time. You must
tell her quietly what has happened, and then she will no doubt see the
advisability of going away."

Sarah went upstairs, therefore, and entered the dressing-room, where the
old aunt was still busy; and in a minute or two Lesley appeared.

"What is it?" she said, briefly.

"Your aunt sent me to say you must come home at once, miss."

"I cannot come just yet: Miss Kenyon wishes me to stay with her," said
Lesley, with dignity.

"You'd better come, Miss Lesley. I don't want to tell you the dreadful
news just now: you'd better hear it at home. Then you'll be glad you
came. It's your pa, miss."

"My father! Oh, Sarah, what do you mean? Is he ill? is he dead? What is
it?"

"He's been arrested, miss, for killing Mr. Trent."

Sarah spoke in a whisper, but it seemed to her hearers as if she had
shouted the words at the top of her voice. Mrs. Durant pressed her hands
together and uttered a little scream. Lesley turned deadly white, and
laid one hand on the back of a chair, as if for support. And the old
aunt immediately ran into the inner room, and burst into tears over
Ethel's almost inanimate form, bewailing her, and calling her a poor,
injured, heartbroken girl, until Ethel opened her great dark eyes, and
fixed them upon the aged, distorted face with a questioning look.

"Lesley!" she breathed. "I want Lesley."

"Oh, my dearest child, you must do without Lesley now. It is not fit
that she should come to you."

But Ethel's lips again formed the same sounds: "I want Lesley." And the
old lady continued--

"She must not come, dear: you cannot see Lesley Brooke again. It is her
father who has done this terrible thing--blighted your life--destroyed
your happiness----"

And so she would have babbled on had not Ethel all at once raised
herself in her bed, with white face and flaming eyes, and called in
tones as clear and resonant as ever--

"Lesley! Lesley! come back!"

And then the old aunt was silent: silent and amazed.

From the next room Lesley came, softly and swiftly as was her wont. Her
face was pale, but her eyes and lips were steady. She went straight to
Ethel; was at once encircled by the girl's arms, and drew Ethel's head
down upon her shoulder.

"Shall I go?" she whispered in Ethel's ear.

"No, no; don't leave me."

"You know what they say? Can you trust my father?"

"I trust you both. Stay with me."

Lesley raised her head and looked back at the litt