ult! The one thing that DID shock me was the
course my aunt had taken under the circumstances. Here surely was a case
for a clergyman, if ever there was one yet! Lady Verinder had thought it
a case for a physician. All my poor aunt's early life had been passed
in her father's godless household. The natural result again! Oh, dear,
dear, the natural result again!

"The doctors recommend plenty of exercise and amusement for Rachel, and
strongly urge me to keep her mind as much as possible from dwelling on
the past," said Lady Verinder.

"Oh, what heathen advice!" I thought to myself. "In this Christian
country, what heathen advice!"

My aunt went on, "I do my best to carry out my instructions. But this
strange adventure of Godfrey's happens at a most unfortunate time.
Rachel has been incessantly restless and excited since she first heard
of it. She left me no peace till I had written and asked my nephew
Ablewhite to come here. She even feels an interest in the other person
who was roughly used--Mr. Luker, or some such name--though the man is,
of course, a total stranger to her."

"Your knowledge of the world, dear aunt, is superior to mine," I
suggested diffidently. "But there must be a reason surely for this
extraordinary conduct on Rachel's part. She is keeping a sinful secret
from you and from everybody. May there not be something in these recent
events which threatens her secret with discovery?"

"Discovery?" repeated my aunt. "What can you possibly mean? Discovery
through Mr. Luker? Discovery through my nephew?"

As the word passed her lips, a special providence occurred. The servant
opened the door, and announced Mr. Godfrey Ablewhite.

CHAPTER II

Mr. Godfrey followed the announcement of his name--as Mr. Godfrey does
everything else--exactly at the right time. He was not so close on the
servant's heels as to startle us. He was not so far behind as to cause
us the double inconvenience of a pause and an open door. It is in the
completeness of his daily life that the true Christian appears. This
dear man was very complete.

"Go to Miss Verinder," said my aunt, addressing the servant, "and tell
her Mr. Ablewhite is here."

We both inquired after his health. We both asked him together whether he
felt like himself again, after his terrible adventure of the past week.
With perfect tact, he contrived to answer us at the same moment. Lady
Verinder had his reply in words. I had his charming smile.

"What,"