he will come to-night?'

'I scarcely think he can, Netta. You know he is obliged to hide, dear,
do you not? for--'

'Yes, yes! he told me for a few days for debt, and then he would come
back. But he didn't murder Captain Dancy, did he?'

Netta started up and fixed her eyes wildly on her brother.

'No,--I assure you, no! I saw some one who saw Captain Dancy yesterday.'

'Thank God! thank God!'

'And, Netta, I do not think he can venture to come back just yet; so you
must try to get well for all our sakes.'

'Yes, I will, that I may go to him. I will sleep now. Put Minette by my
side. Poor Minette!'

Rowland laid the child's head on her mother's lap, and arranged the
pillows for Netta, and then went, with a heart full to bursting, to Mrs
Saunders.

'Mrs Saunders,' he said, 'I know that I can trust you. The poor lady to
whom you have been so kind is my own sister, for whom we have been
anxiously searching all this time. I don't know how far secrecy may be
necessary, but, at present at least, do no let this fact go beyond
yourself. Her husband has reduced her to what you see. I must leave her
for half-an-hour; meanwhile, will you prepare supper, make a cheerful
fire, let off the gas, and give us a couple of candles? Make the room as
home-like as you can, in short. After my sister and the little girl are
gone to bed, put a couple of blankets on the sofa in the sitting-room
for me. I cannot leave her to-night.'

'Excuse me, sir,' said Mrs Saunders, 'wouldn't your sleeping here excite
observation, if secrecy is necessary. You may depend on my care. Sarah
has slept on the sofa for a fortnight, unknown to Mrs Mills, to be
within call.'

'Perhaps you are right; but I want to make my sister fancy she is at
home. It might recall her mind, which is evidently wandering. I shall be
back soon.'

Rowland walked as fast as he could to Mr Jones'. He found him, his wife,
and Freda together in his library.

'I must apologise for coming so late,' he began; 'but I know you are so
kindly interested in my poor sister that you will excuse me. I have
found her and her child, and cannot prevail on her to leave her rooms at
Mrs Saunders', where she is.'

Then Rowland told his friends shortly how he had found her, and that he
feared her mind was in a most uncertain state.

'She evidently does not know her husband's crimes, but thinks he is
hiding on account of debt, and is expecting him to fetch her away every
moment. I think if