shakes."

"Well, I'm blessed!" said the girl, with a titter, turning up the gas.
"I never thought to see you afeared of anything. Why, you looks as
white as a sheet!"

"There, that's enough!" he answered roughly. "Where are the others?"

"Jane is out. Cook and William and the boy are downstairs."

"Come into the library here. They will think that you are up in the
bedrooms. I want to have a quiet word or two with you. Turn up that
reading lamp. Well, are they gone?"

"Yes, they are gone," she answered, standing by the side of the couch on
which he had thrown himself. "Your father came about three with a cab,
and took her away."

"She didn't make a fuss?"

"Make a fuss? No; why should she? There's fuss enough made about her,
in all conscience. Oh, Ezra, before she got between us you was kind to
me at times. I could stand harsh words from you six days a week, if
there was a chance of a kind one on the seventh. But now--now what
notice do you take of me?" She began to whimper and to wipe her eyes
with a little discoloured pocket-handkerchief.

"Drop it, woman, drop it!" cried her companion testily. "I want
information, not snivelling. She seemed reconciled to go?"

"Yes, she went quiet enough," the girl said, with a furtive sob.

"Just give me a drop of brandy out of that bottle over there--the one
with the cork half out. I've not got over my start yet. Did you hear
my father say anything as to where they were going?"

"I heard him tell the cabman to drive to Waterloo Station."

"Nothing more?"

"No."

"Well, if he won't tell you, I will. They have gone down to Hampshire,
my lass. Bedsworth is the name of the place, and it is a pleasant
little corner near the sea. I want you to go down there as well
to-morrow."

"Want me to go?"

"Yes; they need some one who is smart and handy to keep house for them.
There is some old woman already, I believe, but she is old and useless.
I'll warrant you wouldn't take long getting things shipshape. My father
intends to stay down there some little time with Miss Harston."

"And how about you?" the girl asked, with a quick flash of suspicion in
her dark eyes.

"Don't trouble about me. I shall stay behind and mind the business.
Some one must be on the spot. I think cook and Jane and William ought
to be able to look after me among them."

"And I won't see you at all?" the girl cried, with a quiver in her
voice.

"Oh yes, you shall. I'll be d