iged
to you. Are you going now?"

"Must be moving on, I suppose. I saw old Colquhoun the other day and he
began telling me about Miss Murray, and all the wonders she was doing
for the Herons. Makes believe that the money is theirs, not her own,
doesn't she?"

"Yes."

"Odd idea. She must be a curiosity. They brought a tutor with them from
Italy, I believe; some fellow they picked up in the streets."

"He has turned out a very satisfactory one," Rupert answered, coldly.
"They say that he makes a capital tutor for the little boys. I think he
is a favourite with all of them; he teaches Miss Heron Italian."

His voice had taken a curiously formal tone. It sounded as though he was
displeased at something which had occurred to him.

Hugo thought of that tone and of the conversation many times before he
left London next evening. He was rather an adept at the discovery of
small mysteries; he liked to draw conclusions from a series of small
events, and to ferret out other people's secrets. He thought that he was
now upon the track of some design of Vivian's, and he became exceedingly
curious about it. If it had been possible to open the box without
disturbing the seals upon it, he would certainly have done so; but, this
being out of the question, he contented himself with resolving to be
present when it was opened, and to observe with care the effect produced
by Vivian's message on the faces of Mrs. Heron, Miss Heron, and Miss
Murray.

He reached Dunmuir (where the nearest station to his aunt's house was
situated) at eleven o'clock in the morning. Mrs. Luttrell had sent the
mail-phaeton for him. As Hugo took the reins and glanced at the shining
harness and the lustrous coats of the beautiful bays, he could not help
remembering the day when the mail-phaeton had last been sent to bring
him from the station. Richard had then sat in the place that he now
occupied, with Angela beside him; and Brian and Hugo laughed and talked
in the back seat, and were as merry as they well could be. Nearly two
years ago! What changes had been seen since then.

The bays were fidgetty and would not start at once. Hugo was just
shouting a hasty direction to the groom at their heads when he happened
to glance aside towards the station door where two or three persons were
standing. The groom had cause to wonder what was the matter. Hugo gave
the reins a tremendous jerk, which brought the horses nearly upon their
haunches, and then let them go at