ty."

Mrs. Presty disposed of this weak defense of her daughter's conduct by
waving her hand. "Read your telegram," she repeated with dignity, "and
judge for yourself."

Mrs. Linley read:

"I have engaged a governess. She will travel in the same train with
me. I think I ought to prepare you to receive a person whom you may
be surprised to see. She is very young, and very inexperienced; quite
unlike the ordinary run of governesses. When you hear how cruelly the
poor girl has been used, I am sure you will sympathize with her as I
do."

Mrs. Linley laid down the message, with a smile.

"Poor dear Herbert!" she said tenderly. "After we have been eight years
married, is he really afraid that I shall be jealous? Mamma! Why are you
looking so serious?"

Mrs. Presty took the telegram from her daughter and read extracts from
it with indignant emphasis of voice and manner.

"Travels in the same train with him. Very young, and very inexperienced.
And he sympathizes with her. Ha! I know the men, Catherine--I know the
men!"

Chapter II. The Governess Enters.

Mr. Herbert Linley arrived at his own house in the forenoon of the next
day. Mrs. Linley, running out to the head of the stairs to meet her
husband, saw him approaching her without a traveling companion. "Where
is the governess?" she asked--when the first salutes allowed her the
opportunity of speaking.

"On her way to bed, poor soul, under the care of the housekeeper,"
Linley answered.

"Anything infectious, my dear Herbert?" Mrs. Presty inquired appearing
at the breakfast-room door.

Linley addressed his reply to his wife:

"Nothing more serious, Catherine, than want of strength. She was in such
a state of fatigue, after our long night journey, that I had to lift her
out of the carriage."

Mrs. Presty listened with an appearance of the deepest interest. "Quite
a novelty in the way of a governess," she said. "May I ask what her name
is?"

"Sydney Westerfield."

Mrs. Presty looked at her daughter and smiled satirically.

Mrs. Linley remonstrated.

"Surely," she said, "you don't object to the young lady's name!"

"I have no opinion to offer, Catherine. I don't believe in the name."

"Oh, mamma, do you suspect that it's an assumed name?"

"My dear, I haven't a doubt that it is. May I ask another question?"
the old lady continued, turning to Linley. "What references did Miss
Westerfield give you?"

"No references at all."

Mrs. Presty rose with