l about my health. Oh, and in
Battersea Park Road I saw such a shocking sight; a great cart ran over
a poor little dog, and it was killed on the spot. It unnerved me
dreadfully. I do think, Edmund, those drivers ought to be more careful.
I was saying to Mrs. Conisbee only the other day--and that reminds me,
I do so want to know all about your visit to Clevedon. Dear, dear
Clevedon! And have you really taken a house there, Edmund? Oh, if we
could all end our days at Clevedon! You know that our dear father and
mother are buried in the old churchyard. You remember Tennyson's lines
about the old church at Clevedon? Oh, and what did Monica decide
about--about--really, what _was_ I going to ask? It is so foolish of me
to forget that dinner-time has come and gone. I get so exhausted, and
even my memory fails me.'

He could doubt no longer. This poor woman had yielded to one of the
temptations that beset a life of idleness and solitude. His pity was
mingled with disgust.

'I only wished to tell you,' he said gravely, 'that we have taken a
house at Clevedon--'

'You really _have_!' She clasped her hands together. 'Whereabouts?'

'Near Dial Hill.'

Virginia began a rhapsody which her brother-in-law had no inclination
to hear. He rose abruptly.

'Perhaps you had better come and see us to-morrow.'

'But Monica left a message that she wouldn't be at home for the next
few days, and that I wasn't to come till I heard from her.'

'Not at home--? I think there's a mistake.'

'Oh, impossible! We'll ask Mrs. Conisbee.'

She went to the door and called. From the landlady Widdowson learnt
exactly what Monica had said. He reflected for a moment.

'She shall write to you then. Don't come just yet. I mustn't stay any
longer now.'

And with a mere pretence of shaking hands he abruptly left the house.

Suspicions thickened about him. He would have thought it utterly
impossible for Miss Madden to disgrace herself in this vulgar way, and
the appalling discovery affected his view of Monica. They were sisters;
they had characteristics in common, family traits, weaknesses. If the
elder woman could fall into this degradation, might there not be
possibilities in Monica's character such as he had refused to
contemplate? Was there not terrible reason for mistrusting her? What
did she mean by her message to Virginia.

Black and haggard, he went home as fast as a hansom could take him. It
was half-past five when he reached the house. His