ite
providential."

At this moment there came a double knock at the door, and the servant
announced that Mr. Wordley was in the drawing-room. Mr. and Mrs. Heron
exchanged glances, and both of them turned rather pale; for John Heron
had a very vivid recollection of Mr. Wordley's frank and candid manner
of expressing himself. But he had to be faced, and the pair went down
into the drawing-room with a long-suffering expression on their faces.

Mr. Wordley, however, appeared to be quite cheerful. He shook hands
with both of them, and enquired after their health and that of their
family quite amiably and pleasantly.

"Most delightful weather, isn't it?" he remarked. "Quite pleasant
travelling. You have a remarkably--or--convenient house, Mrs. Heron:
charming suburb: will no doubt be quite gay and fashionable when it
is--er--more fully developed. You are looking well, Mr. Heron."

Mr. Heron, whatever he may have looked, was feeling anything but well
at that moment; for he suspected than the lawyer was only masking his
attack, and that he meant to spring upon him presently.

"I enjoy fairly good health, Mr. Wordley, thank you," he said, in his
sanctimonious way; "but I have my share of trials and anxieties in this
miserable world."

"Oh, don't call it miserable, on a morning like this!" said Mr.
Wordley, cheerfully. "My dear sir, there is nothing the matter with the
world; it's--er--some of the people in it that try to make it
miserable."

While he had been speaking, he had been glancing at the door and
listening, as if he had been listening and expecting to hear and see
someone else.

"The fact is," he said, "I have come up rather suddenly on rather
important business: came up without a moment's delay. _Where is_ Miss
Ida? I should like to see her at once, please, if I may!"

The faces of the pair grew sallow, and the corners of John Heron's
mouth dropped lower even than usual.

"Ida?" he said, in a hollow voice, as if he were confused. "Where is
she? Surely you know, Mr. Wordley?"

"I know? How should I know? I came up to see her: not a moment to
spare. Isn't she here? Why do you both stare at me like this?"

"She is not here," said John Heron. "Ida left our house more than a
fortnight ago."

Mr. Wordley looked disappointed, and grunted:

"Oh, gone to stay with some friends, I suppose. I'll trouble you to
give me their address, Mr. Heron, please."

He rose, as he spoke, as if he meant starting on the mome