and it was shivered
to atoms on the floor.

"And you never saw the lady after?" May asked.

"Never. Legard received regular remittances, mailed, oddly enough, from
your town here--Plymouth. The lady told him, if he ever had occasion to
address her, which he never did have, that I know of, to address Madam
Ada, Plymouth! He brought me up, educated me, taught me his art, and
died. I was old enough then to comprehend my position; and the first use
I made of that knowledge, was to return 'Madam Ada' her remittances,
with a few sharp lines, that effectually put an end to them."

"Have you ever tried to ferret out the mystery of your birth, and this
Madam Ada?" inquired Sir Rupert.

Mr. Legard shook his head.

"No, why should I? I dare say I should have no reason to be proud of my
parents if I did find them; and they evidently were not very proud of
me. 'Where ignorance is bliss,' etc. If destiny has decreed it, I shall
know, sooner or later; if destiny has not, then my puny efforts will be
of no avail. But if presentiments mean anything, I shall one day know;
and I have no doubt, if I searched Devonshire, I should find Madam Ada."

May Everard started up with a cry, for Lady Thetford had fallen back in
one of those sudden spasms to which she had lately become subject. In
the universal consternation, Guy Legard and his story were forgotten.

"I hope what _I_ said had nothing to do with this," he cried aghast; and
the one following so suddenly upon the other made the remark natural
enough. But Sir Rupert turned upon him in haughty surprise.

"What you said! My mother, unfortunately, has been subject to these
attacks for the past two years, Mr. Legard. That will do, May; let me
assist my mother to her room."

May drew back. Lady Thetford was able to rise, pallid and trembling,
and, supported by her son's arm, to walk from the room.

"Lady Thetford's health is very delicate, I fear," Mr. Legard murmured,
sympathetically. "I really thought for a moment my story-telling had
occasioned her sudden illness."

Miss Everard fixed a pair of big, shining eyes in solemn scrutiny on his
face--that face so like the pictured one of Sir Noel Thetford.

"A very natural supposition," thought the young lady; "so did _I_."

"You never knew Sir Noel?" Guy Legard said, musingly; "but, of course,
you did not. Sir Rupert has told me he died before he was born."

"I never saw him," said May; "but those who have seen him in this house,