an I say that," he replied, "if the
poor child's life depends on Miss Westerfield? I ask one favor--give me
time to leave the house before she comes here."

Mrs. Linley looked at him in amazement.

Her mother touched her arm; Randal tried by a sign to warn her to be
careful. Their calmer minds had seen what the wife's agitation had
prevented her from discovering. In Linley's position, the return of the
governess was a trial to his self-control which he had every reason to
dread: his look, his voice, his manner proclaimed it to persons
capable of quietly observing him. He had struggled against his
guilty passion--at what sacrifice of his own feelings no one knew but
himself--and here was the temptation, at the very time when he was
honorably resisting it, brought back to him by his wife! Her motive did
unquestionably excuse, perhaps even sanction, what she had done; but
this was an estimate of her conduct which commended itself to others.
From his point of view--motive or no motive--he saw the old struggle
against himself in danger of being renewed; he felt the ground that he
had gained slipping from under him already.

In spite of the well-meant efforts made by her relatives to prevent it,
Mrs. Linley committed the very error which it was the most important
that she should avoid. She justified herself, instead of leaving it to
events to justify her. "Miss Westerfield comes here," she argued, "on an
errand that is beyond reproach--an errand of mercy. Why should you leave
the house?"

"In justice to you," Linley answered.

Mrs. Presty could restrain herself no longer. "Drop it, Catherine!" she
said in a whisper.

Catherine refused to drop it; Linley's short and sharp reply had
irritated her. "After my experience," she persisted, "have I no reason
to trust you?"

"It is part of your experience," he reminded her, "that I promised not
to see Miss Westerfield again."

"Own it at once!" she broke out, provoked beyond endurance; "though I
may be willing to trust you--you are afraid to trust yourself."

Unlucky Mrs. Presty interfered again. "Don't listen to her, Herbert.
Keep out of harm's way, and you keep right."

She patted him on the shoulder, as if she had been giving good advice to
a boy. He expressed his sense of his mother-in-law's friendly offices in
language which astonished her.

"Hold your tongue!"

"Do you hear that?" Mrs. Presty asked, appealing indignantly to her
daughter.

Linley took his hat. "