to do as she had threatened, and communicate instantly
with her father, possibly attempt to fly to him. Moreover, Reynard's
letter was addressed to Mr. Dornell and herself conjointly, and she could
not in conscience keep it from her husband.

'I will send the letter on to your father instantly,' she replied
soothingly. 'He shall act entirely as he chooses, and you know that will
not be in opposition to your wishes. He would ruin you rather than
thwart you. I only hope he may be well enough to bear the agitation of
this news. Do you agree to this?'

Poor Betty agreed, on condition that she should actually witness the
despatch of the letter. Her mother had no objection to offer to this;
but as soon as the horseman had cantered down the drive toward the
highway, Mrs. Dornell's sympathy with Betty's recalcitration began to die
out. The girl's secret affection for young Phelipson could not possibly
be condoned. Betty might communicate with him, might even try to reach
him. Ruin lay that way. Stephen Reynard must be speedily installed in
his proper place by Betty's side.

She sat down and penned a private letter to Reynard, which threw light
upon her plan.

* * * * *

'It is Necessary that I should now tell you,' she said, 'what I have
never Mentioned before--indeed I may have signified the Contrary--that
her Father's Objection to your joining her has not as yet been overcome.
As I personally Wish to delay you no longer--am indeed as anxious for
your Arrival as you can be yourself, having the good of my Daughter at
Heart--no course is left open to me but to assist your Cause without my
Husband's Knowledge. He, I am sorry to say, is at present ill at Falls-
Park, but I felt it my Duty to forward him your Letter. He will
therefore be like to reply with a peremptory Command to you to go back
again, for some Months, whence you came, till the Time he originally
stipulated has expir'd. My Advice is, if you get such a Letter, to take
no Notice of it, but to come on hither as you had proposed, letting me
know the Day and Hour (after dark, if possible) at which we may expect
you. Dear Betty is with me, and I warrant ye that she shall be in the
House when you arrive.'

* * * * *

Mrs. Dornell, having sent away this epistle unsuspected of anybody, next
took steps to prevent her daughter leaving the Court, avoiding if
possible to excite the girl's suspicions that she was under restraint.
But, as if by divination, B