ry much better than her lover did,
and remembering his frequent exhortations upon the subject of the vanity
and wickedness of such things, she feared the effects of his anger when
he learned the truth. In a year or so she would be of age and her own
mistress, but at present she was entirely in his power. Why should she
subject herself to the certainty of constant harshness and unkindness
which would await her? Had her guardian really fulfilled the functions
of a father towards her he would have a right to be informed, but as it
was she felt that she owed him no such duty. She therefore made up her
mind that he should know nothing of the matter; but the fates
unfortunately willed otherwise.

It chanced that one morning the interview between the lovers had lasted
rather longer than usual, and had been concluded by Kate's returning to
the house, while Tom remained sitting upon the garden seat lost in such
a reverie as affects men in his position. While thus pleasantly
employed, his thoughts were suddenly recalled to earth by the appearance
of a dark shadow on the gravel in front of him, and looking up he saw
the senior partner standing a short distance away and regarding him with
anything but an amiable expression upon his face. He had himself been
having a morning stroll in the garden, and had overseen the whole of the
recent interview without the preoccupied lovers being aware of his
presence.

"Are you coming to the office?" he asked sternly. "If so, we can go
together."

Tom rose and followed him out of the gardens without a word. He knew
from the other's expression that all was known to him, and in his heart
he was not sorry. His only fear was that the old man's anger might fall
upon his ward and this he determined to prevent. They walked side by
side as far as the station in complete silence, but on reaching
Fenchurch Street Girdlestone asked his young partner to step into his
private sanctum.

"Now, sir," he said, as he closed the door behind him "I think that I
have a right to inquire what the meaning may be of the scene of which I
was an involuntary witness this morning?"

"It means," Tom answered firmly but gently, "that I am engaged to Miss
Harston, and have been for some time."

"Oh, indeed," Girdlestone answered coldly, sitting down at his desk and
turning over the pile of letters.

"At my request," said Tom, "our engagement was kept from your knowledge.
I had reason to believe that you obje