to his surprise, on the Captain's contemplated
search for the lost girl.

Was the good man likely to find her? It seemed useless enough to
inquire--and yet Randal asked himself the question. Her father had been
described as an officer in the Navy. Well, and what did that matter?
Inclined to laugh at his own idle curiosity, he was suddenly struck by
a new idea. What had his brother told him of Miss Westerfield? _She_ was
the daughter of an officer in the Navy; _she_ had been pupil-teacher at
a school. Was it really possible that Sydney Westerfield could be the
person whom Captain Bennydeck was attempting to trace? Randal threw up
the window which overlooked the drive in front of the house. Too late!
The carriage which had brought the Captain to Mount Morven was no longer
in sight.

The one other course that he could take was to mention Captain
Bennydeck's name to Sydney, and be guided by the result.

As he approached the bell, determining to send a message upstairs,
he heard the door opened behind him. Mrs. Presty had entered the
drawing-room, with a purpose (as it seemed) in which Randal was
concerned.

Chapter XX.

The Mother-in-Law.

Strong as the impression was which Captain Bennydeck had produced on
Randal, Mrs. Presty's first words dismissed it from his mind. She asked
him if he had any message for his brother.

Randal instantly looked at the clock. "Has Catherine not sent to the
farm, yet?" he asked in astonishment.

Mrs. Presty's mind seemed to be absorbed in her daughter. "Ah, poor
Catherine! Worn out with anxiety and watching at Kitty's bedside. Night
after night without any sleep; night after night tortured by suspense.
As usual, she can depend on her old mother for sympathy. I have taken
all her household duties on myself, till she is in better health."

Randal tried again. "Mrs. Presty, am I to understand (after the plain
direction Herbert gave) that no messenger has been sent to the farm?"

Mrs. Presty held her venerable head higher than ever, when Randal
pronounced his brother's name. "I see no necessity for being in a
hurry," she answered stiffly, "after the brutal manner in which Herbert
has behaved to me. Put yourself in my place--and imagine what you would
feel if you were told to hold your tongue."

Randal wasted no more time on ears that were deaf to remonstrance.
Feeling the serious necessity of interfering to some good purpose, he
asked where he might find his sister-in-law.