solent, but she was presently convinced that she had
mastered the situation. They agreed to go to Eastbourne together next
day, and then to look for a flat for Molly in London. The suggestion
that Mrs. Delaport Green might help Molly to choose the furniture proved
very soothing indeed.

Molly went down-stairs again to let Sir Edmund know they were not going
to leave till next morning, and to find out if he had succeeded in
speaking to Lady Groombridge.

As she passed through the hall, she saw that he was sitting with Lady
Rose by a window opening on to the terrace. She was passing on, being
anxious not to interrupt them, but Rose held out her hand.

"I've hardly seen you this morning. Do come and sit with us." And then,
as Molly rather shyly sat down by her side on a low sofa, Lady Rose went
on:

"I was just telling Sir Edmund a very beautiful thing that has happened,
only it is very sad for dear Lord Groombridge and for her. They have
only had the news this morning, but it is not a secret, and it is very
wonderful. You know that this place was to go to a cousin, quite a young
man, and they liked him very much. They did mind his being a Roman
Catholic, but they were very good about it, and now he has written that
he has actually been ordained a priest, and that he will not have the
property or the Castle as he is going to be just an ordinary parish
priest working amongst the poor. It is wonderful, isn't it? They say the
next brother is a very ordinary young man--not like this wonderful
one--and so they are very much upset to-day, poor dears. They knew he
was studying for the priesthood, but they did not realise that the time
for his Ordination had really come."

Molly murmured shyly something that sounded sympathetic, and then,
looking at Sir Edmund, ventured to say:

"Mrs. Delaport Green would like to stay till the early train to-morrow.
But have you seen Lady Groombridge?"

"Yes; it's all right--or rather, it's all wrong--but she won't tell
Groombridge to-day, and she will be quite fairly civil, I think."

"And this news," said Rose gently, "will make them both think less of
that unfortunate affair last night."

Molly rose and moved off with an unusually genial smile.

CHAPTER XI

THE THIN END OF A CLUE

Edmund Grosse later on in the morning strolled down to the stables. He
had been there the day before, but he had still something to say to the
stud-groom, an old friend of his, who had the highe