ong?" asked Arnold, who had noticed the
look which Sir Patrick had cast on Blanche.

"Your wife is making mischief as fast as her fingers can spread it."

Arnold stared. "She must answer Lady Lundie's letter," he said.

"Unquestionably."

"And she must tell Lady Lundie we have come back."

"I don't deny it."

"Then what is the objection to her writing?"

Sir Patrick took a pinch of snuff--and pointed with his ivory cane to
the bees humming busily about the flower-beds in the sunshine of the
autumn morning.

"I'll show you the objection," he said. "Suppose Blanche told one of
those inveterately intrusive insects that the honey in the flowers
happens, through an unexpected accident, to have come to an end--do
you think he would take the statement for granted? No. He would plunge
head-foremost into the nearest flower, and investigate it for himself."

"Well?" said Arnold.

"Well--there is Blanche in the breakfast-room telling Lady Lundie that
the bridal tour happens, through an unexpected accident, to have come
to an end. Do you think Lady Lundie is the sort of person to take the
statement for granted? Nothing of the sort! Lady Lundie, like the
bee, will insist on investigating for herself. How it will end, if she
discovers the truth--and what new complications she may not introduce
into a matter which, Heaven knows, is complicated enough already--I
leave you to imagine. _My_ poor powers of prevision are not equal to
it."

Before Arnold could answer, Blanche joined them from the breakfast-room.

"I've done it," she said. "It was an awkward letter to write--and it's a
comfort to have it over."

"You have done it, my dear," remarked Sir Patrick, quietly. "And it may
be a comfort. But it's not over."

"What do you mean?"

"I think, Blanche, we shall hear from your step-mother by return of
post."

CHAPTER THE THIRTY-EIGHTH.

THE NEWS FROM GLASGOW.

THE letters to Lady Lundie and to Mr. Crum having been dispatched
on Monday, the return of the post might be looked for on Wednesday
afternoon at Ham Farm.

Sir Patrick and Arnold held more than one private consultation, during
the interval, on the delicate and difficult subject of admitting Blanche
to a knowledge of what had happened. The wise elder advised and the
inexperienced junior listened. "Think of it," said Sir Patrick; "and do
it." And Arnold thought of it--and left it undone.

Let those who feel inclined to blame him remember that he had only