ase of
a storm. You fully understand?"

"Of course I do," she said, putting away her handkerchief. "I'm not
quite a fool!"

And indeed, none of her friends or acquaintances had ever made that
accusation against Lilian Cromarty.

"Well, that's all," said Ned, and began to move across the room.

But now the instinct for finding a scapegoat began to revive.

"Who did you tell it to, Ned?" she asked.

"Simon Rattar."

"Then _he_ has spread this dreadful story!" she exclaimed with righteous
indignation.

Her brother stopped and slowly turned back.

"By heaven, I've scarcely had time to think it all out yet--but it looks
like it!"

"It _must_ be that nasty grumpy old creature! If you told nobody
else--well, it can't be anybody else!"

"But why should he go and spread such a story?"

"Because he wants to shelter some one else!"

"Who?"

"Ah, that's for the police to find out. But I'm quite certain, Ned, that
that pig-headed old Simon with his cod-fish eyes and his everlasting
grunt is at the bottom of it all!"

He stared thoughtfully into space.

"Well," he said slowly, "he has certainly been asking for trouble in one
or two ways, and this seems another invitation. But he'll get it, sure!
At the same time--what's his object?"

His sister had no hesitation.

"Either to make money or hide something disgraceful. You really must
enquire into this, Ned!"

He dropped into a chair and sat for a few minutes with his face in his
hands. At last he looked up and shook his head.

"I'm out of my depth," he said. "I guess I'd better see Carrington."

"Mr. Carrington?" she exclaimed.

"I had a long talk with him," he explained. "He seems an uncommon shrewd
fellow. Yes, that's the proper line!"

She looked at him curiously but evidently judged it tactful in the
present delicate situation to ask no more. He rose now and went, still
thoughtful, to the door.

"What a dreadful thing of Simon Rattar to do! Wasn't it, Ned?" she said
indignantly, her eyes as bright as ever again.

He turned as she went out.

"The whole thing has been damnable!"

As the door closed behind him she made a little grimace again and then
gave a little shrug.

"He's going to marry her!" she said to herself, and acting immediately
on a happy inspiration, sat down to write a long and affectionate letter
to an old friend whose country house might, with judicious management,
be considered good for a six months' visit.

XXX

A MA