ch him,--that drunken husband? What could
it mean but that she was striving to prevent Mr. Hayne's ever hearing
the truth? She longed to learn more and solve the riddle once and for
all. They were still earnestly talking together down in the dining-room;
but she could not listen. Kate knew her so well that she had not closed
the door leading into the hall, though both she and the laundress of
Company B had lowered their voices. It was disgraceful at best, thought
Miss Travers, it was beneath her sister, that she should hold any
private conversation with a woman of that class. Confidences with such
were contamination. She half determined to rush down-stairs and put an
end to it, but was saved the scene: fresh young voices, hearty ringing
tones, and the stamp of heavy boot-heels were heard at the door; and as
Rayner entered, ushering in Royce and Graham, Mrs. Rayner and the
laundress fled once more to the kitchen.

When the sisters found themselves alone again, it was late in the
evening. Mrs. Rayner came to Nellie's room and talked on various topics
for some little time, watching narrowly her sister's face. The young
girl hardly spoke at all. It was evident to the elder what her thoughts
must be.

"I suppose you think I should explain Mrs. Clancy's agitation and
mysterious conduct, Nellie," she finally and suddenly said.

"I do not want you to tell me anything, Kate, that you yourself do not
wish to tell me. You understand, of course, how I happened to be there?"

"Oh, certainly. I wasn't thinking of that. You couldn't help hearing;
but you must have thought it queer,--her being so agitated, I mean."

No answer.

"Didn't you?"

"I wasn't thinking of her at all."

"What did you think, then?" half defiantly, yet trembling and growing
white.

"I thought it strange that _you_ should be talking with her in such a
way."

"She was worried about her husband,--his drinking so much,--and came to
consult me."

"Why should she--and you--show such consternation at his connection with
the name of Mr. Hayne?"

"Nellie, _that_ matter is one you know I cannot bear to talk of." ("Very
recently only," thought the younger.) "You once asked me to tell you
what Mr. Hayne's crime had been, and I answered that until you could
hear the whole story you could not understand the matter at all. We are
both worried about Clancy. He is not himself; he is wild and imaginative
when he's drinking. He has some strange fancies since the fir