formerly.

Mrs. Ormonde was upstairs with her children; they were singing to her;
Annabel heard the choir of young voices as she entered the garden. The
servant who went to announce her brought back a request that she would
ascend and hear a song.

She did so. The last song was to be 'Annie Laurie,' in which the
children were perfect. Annabel took the offered seat without speaking,
and listened.

Bessie Bunce was near Mrs. Ormonde. When the song was over she said:

'I'd like to hear Miss Trent sing that again; wouldn't you, mum?'

'Yes, I should, Bessie. Perhaps we shall have her here again some day.'

Mrs. Ormonde went down with Annabel to the drawing-room. She was in a
happy mood to-night, and, as they descended together, she put her arm
playfully about the girl's waist.

'I wonder where Mr. Grail has taken her?' she said. 'I can't get any
news from Mr. Egremont. I wrote to Jersey, and behold the letter is
returned to me, with 'Gone and left no address.' I wonder whether he's
back in town!'

'I have some news of him,' Annabel said quietly.

'Have you?'

There was no reply till they were in the drawing-room; then Annabel
held out her cousin's letter.

'Will you read that?'

Mrs. Ormonde complied, Annabel watching her face the while. The girl
looked for indignation, for scornful disbelief; she saw something quite
different. Mrs. Ormonde's hand trembled, but in a moment she had
overcome all weakness.

'Sit down, dear,' she said, calmly. 'You have just received this? Yes,
I see the date.'

Annabel remained standing.

'Your letter is returned from Jersey,' she remarked, with steady voice.
'Paula mentions no dates. Did he go to Jersey at all?'

'I have no means of knowing, save his own declaration, when he said
good-bye to me on Thursday of last week. And he told me he was going to
his old quarters at St. Aubin's.'

'Do you give credit to this, Mrs. Ormonde?'

'Annabel, I can say nothing. Yet, no! I do not believe it until it is
confirmed beyond all doubt. I owe that to him, as you also do.'

'But it does not seem to you incredible. I saw that on your face.'

'One thing suggested here is incredible, wholly incredible. If there is
any truth in the story at all, by this time she is his wife. So much we
know, you and I, Annabel.'

'Yes.'

'Remember, it is possible that he is in Jersey. The old rooms may have
been occupied.'

'The people would know where he had gone, I think, Though if he--if he