suaded Dora to write a statement of all
the facts concerning the birth of the child. She told her husband the
name under which they traveled, the names of the ship, the captain, and
the ship's doctor, and Mrs. Denning authenticated the statement; but,
oh, what a mean, suspicious creature Mostyn is!"

"What makes you reiterate that description of him?"

"He was quite unable to see any good or kind intent in this paper. He
proved its correctness, and then wrote Mr. Denning a very contemptible
letter."

"Which was characteristic enough. What did he say?"

"That the amende honorable was too late; that he supposed Dora wished to
have the divorce proceedings stopped and be reinstated as his wife,
but he desired the whole Denning family to understand that was now
impossible; he was 'fervently, feverishly awaiting his freedom, which
he expected at any hour.' He said it was 'sickening to remember the
weariness of body and soul Dora had given him about a non-existing
child, and though this could never be atoned for, he did think he ought
to be refunded the money Dora's contemptible revenge had cost him."'

"How could he? How could he?"

"Of course Mr. Denning sent him a check, a pretty large one, I dare say.
And I suppose he has his freedom by this time, unless he has married
again."

"He will never marry again."

"Indeed, that is the strange part of the story. It was because he
wanted to marry again that he was 'fervently, feverishly awaiting his
freedom.'"

"I can hardly believe it, Ethel. What does Dora say?"

"I have the news from Lucy. She says when Mostyn was ignored by everyone
in the neighborhood, one woman stood up for him almost passionately. Do
you remember Miss Sadler?"

"That remarkable governess of the Surreys? Why, Ethel, she is the very
ugliest woman I ever saw."

"She is so ugly that she is fascinating. If you see her one minute you
can never forget her, and she is brains to her finger tips. She ruled
everyone at Surrey House. She was Lord Surrey's secretary and Lady
Surrey's adviser. She educated the children, and they adored her; she
ruled the servants, and they obeyed her with fear and trembling. Nothing
was done in Surrey House without her approval. And if her face was not
handsome, she had a noble presence and a manner that was irresistible."

"And she took Mostyn's part?"

"With enthusiasm. She abused Dora individually, and American women
generally. She pitied Mr. Mostyn, and made others d