source of
trustworthy information, with a laugh. 'Denham says he met him in New
York a year or two ago, under another name.

'Excuse me,' interposed Mr Quarmby, 'there's some mistake in all that.'

He went on to state what he knew, from Yule himself, concerning
Milvain's history. Though in this instance a corrector, Mr Quarmby took
an opportunity, a few hours later, of informing Mr Hinks that the attack
on Yule in The Current was almost certainly written by young Milvain,
with the result that when the rumour reached Yule's ears it was
delivered as an undoubted and well-known fact.

It was a month prior to this that Milvain made his call upon Marian
Yule, on the Sunday when her father was absent. When told of the visit,
Yule assumed a manner of indifference, but his daughter understood that
he was annoyed. With regard to the sisters who would shortly be living
in London, he merely said that Marian must behave as discretion directed
her. If she wished to invite the Miss Milvains to St Paul's Crescent,
he only begged that the times and seasons of the household might not be
disturbed.

As her habit was, Marian took refuge in silence. Nothing could have been
more welcome to her than the proximity of Maud and Dora, but she foresaw
that her own home would not be freely open to them; perhaps it might be
necessary to behave with simple frankness, and let her friends know the
embarrassments of the situation. But that could not be done in the first
instance; the unkindness would seem too great. A day after the arrival
of the girls, she received a note from Dora, and almost at once replied
to it by calling at her friends' lodgings. A week after that, Maud and
Dora came to St Paul's Crescent; it was Sunday, and Mr Yule purposely
kept away from home. They had only been once to the house since then,
again without meeting Mr Yule. Marian, however, visited them at their
lodgings frequently; now and then she met Jasper there. The latter never
spoke of her father, and there was no question of inviting him to repeat
his call.

In the end, Marian was obliged to speak on the subject with her mother.
Mrs Yule offered an occasion by asking when the Miss Milvains were
coming again.

'I don't think I shall ever ask them again,' Marian replied.

Her mother understood, and looked troubled.

'I must tell them how it is, that's all,' the girl went on. 'They are
sensible; they won't be offended with me.'

'But your father has never had any