es as if he would _instantly decapitate_ any person who
as much as looked at them. Such a procession you never saw! Mrs.
Anstruther's devotion to her husband is _too_ absurd. He is a
tall, handsome man, of distinguished appearance, but on the few
occasions I have spoken to him he impressed me as somewhat
_taciturn_. Yet to see the way in which his wife even
_looks_ at him you would imagine that he had not his equal in
the world!

"I believe there is some _secret_ in their lives. Colonel
Anstruther used to be in the army--he is now in command of our
local yeomanry--and although his name is 'Robert,' _tout
court_, I have often heard Mrs. Anstruther call him 'Jenks.'
Their boy, too, is christened Robert _Jenks_ Anstruther.' Now,
my dear Helen, _do_ make inquiries about them in town circles.
I _particularly_ wish you to find out who is this person
'Jenks'--a most vulgar name. I am sure you will unearth something
curious, because Mrs. Anstruther was a Miss Deane, daughter of the
baronet, and Anstruther's people are well known in Yorkshire. There
are absolutely no Jenkses connected with them on either side.

"I think I can help you by another _clue_, as a very
_odd_ incident occurred at our hunt ball last week. The
Anstruthers, I must tell you, usually go away for the winter, to
China, or to their fabulous island. This year they remained at
home, and Colonel Anstruther became M.F.H., as he is certainly a
most liberal man so far as _sport_ and _charity_ are
concerned.

"Well, dear, the Dodgsons--you remember the Leeds clothier
people--having _contrived_ to enter county society, invited
the Earl of Ventnor down for the ball. He, it seems, knew nothing
about Anstruther being M.F.H., and of course Mrs. Anstruther
_received_. The moment Lord Ventnor heard her name he was very
angry. He said he did not care to meet her, and left for London by
the next train. The Dodgsons were _awfully_ annoyed with him,
and Mrs. Dodgson had the bad taste to tell Mrs, Anstruther all
about it. And what do you think _she_ said--'Lord Ventnor need
not have been so frightened. My husband has not brought his
hunting-crop with him!'

"I was not there, but young Barker told me that Mrs. Anstruther
looked very _impressive_ as she said this. 'Stunning!' was the
word he used, but young Barker is a _f