, may be to-morrow."

As she said the last words she pushed aside his detaining hand, and
ran out of the summer-house. He heard her eager, quick steps as she
ran away, and a moment later there came her gay laughter back to him
from the distance. She had joined the other children, and was happy in
her games.

"Poor little maid!" he said to himself, and he sat on grave and
silent. He did not like to confess it, but Sibyl's words had affected
him.

"The faith she has in that poor fellow is quite beautiful," was his
inward thought; "it seems a sin to break it. If he does go to
Queensland it will be broken, and somewhat rudely. I could send
Atherton. Atherton is not the man for our purpose. His report won't
affect the public as Ogilvie's report would, but he has never yet been
troubled by conscience, and Sibyl's faith will be unshaken. It is
worth considering. It is not every man who has got a little daughter
like Sibyl."

These thoughts came and worried him; presently he rose with a laugh.

"What am I," he said to himself, "to have my way disturbed by the
words of a mere child?" And just then he heard the soft rustle of a
silk dress, and, looking up, he saw the pretty face of Mrs. Ogilvie.

"Come in and sit down," he said, jumping up and offering her a chair.
"It is cool and yet not draughty in here. I have just had the pleasure
of a conversation with your little daughter."

"Indeed! I do hope she has been conducting herself properly."

"I must not repeat what she said; I can only assure you that she
behaved charmingly."

"I am so relieved; Sibyl so often does not behave charmingly, that you
don't wonder that I should ask you the question."

"She has a very great respect for you," said Lord Grayleigh; "it makes
me think you a better woman to have a child regard you as she does."

Mrs. Ogilvie fidgeted; she had seated herself on a low rustic chair,
and she looked pretty and elegant in her white summer dress, and her
hat softening the light in her beautiful eyes. She toyed with her
white lace parasol, and looked, as Sibyl had looked a short time ago,
across the lovely summer scene; but in her eyes there shone the world
with all its temptations and all its lures, and Sibyl's had made
acquaintance with the stars, and the lofty peaks of high principle,
and honor, and knew nothing of the real world.

Lord Grayleigh, in a kind of confused way which he did not himself
understand, noticed the difference in the glance