he letter did however come to hand two days before Isabel and Mrs
Enderby arrived at the metropolis, much to the chagrin of Mrs Revel,
who imagined that her daughter had returned pennyless, to be a sharer of
her limited income. She complained to Mr Heaviside, who as usual
stepped in, not so much from any regard for Mrs Revel, but to while
away the time of a _far niente_ old bachelor.

"Only think, Mr Heaviside," said the lady, who was stretched on a sofa,
supported on pillows, "Isabel has returned from India. Here is a letter
I have just received, signed by her maiden name! Her sisters so well
married too! Surely she might have stayed out with one of them! I
wonder how she got the money to pay her passage home! Dear me! what
shall I do with her?"

"If I may be allowed to see the letter, Mrs Revel," said the old
gentleman--

"Oh, certainly, it's nothing but a note."

Mr Heaviside read the contents.

"There is very little in it indeed, Mrs Revel; not a word about the
colonel, or why she left India. Perhaps the colonel may be dead."

"Then she might have gone to live with one of her sisters, Mr
Heaviside!"

"But perhaps he may have left her some property."

"And do you, a sensible man, think that if such was the case, my
daughter would not have mentioned it in her note? Impossible, Mr
Heaviside!"

"She may intend to surprise you, Mrs Revel."

"She has surprised me," replied the lady, falling back upon the pillows.

"Well, Mrs Revel, you will soon ascertain the facts. I wish you a good
morning, and will pay my devoirs in a day or two to inquire after your
health, and hear what has taken place."

To defray the expenses attending the "consignment" of the three Miss
Revel's to India, Mrs Revel had consented to borrow money, insuring her
life as a security to the parties who provided it. Her unprincipled
husband took this opportunity of obtaining a sum which amounted to more
than half her marriage settlement, as Mrs Revel signed the papers laid
before her without examining their purport. When her dividends were
become due this treachery was discovered, and Mrs Revel found herself
reduced to a very narrow income, and wholly deserted by her husband, who
knew that he had no chance of obtaining further means of carrying on his
profligate career. His death in a duel, which we have before mentioned,
took place a few months after the transaction, and Mrs Revel was
attacked with that painful disease, a cancer