asping her hands in vague, incredulous anguish.

"Hush, hush, Nora, be quiet, my dear. The very question you ask does
wrong to your--to Herman Brudenell, who with all his faults is still the
soul of honor," murmured Hannah soothingly.

"Yes, I know he is; and yet--but there is some stupid mistake," sighed
Nora, dropping her head upon her sister's lap.

Straight through this low, loving talk went the words of Mrs. Jones:

"Well, now, I can't take upon myself to say whether it was Europe or
London, or which of them outlandish places; but, anyways, in some on 'em
he did leave his wife a-living along of her 'pa. But you see 'bout a
month ago, her 'pa he died, a-leaving of all his property to his
onliest darter, Lady Hoist, Hurl, Hurt, Hurt-my-toe. No! Hurt-me-so,
Lady Hurt-me-so! I never can get the hang of her outlandish name. Well,
then you know there wa'n't no call to keep the marriage secret no more.
So what does my lady do but want to put a joyful surprise on the top of
her husband; so without writing of him a word of what she was a-gwine to
do, soon as ever the old man was buried and the will read, off she sets
and comes over the sea to New York, and took a boat there for Baymouth,
and hired of a carriage and rid over to Brudenell Hall, and arrove there
at one o'clock last night, as I telled you afore!"

"Are you certain that all this is true?" murmured Hannah, in a husky
undertone.

"Hi, Miss Hannah, didn't Jovial, and Mrs. Spicer, and Madam Brudenell
herself tell me? And besides I seen the young cre'tur' myself, with my
own eyes, dressed in deep mourning, which it was a fine black crape
dress out and out, and a sweet pretty cre'tur' she was too, only so
pale!"

"Hannah!" screamed Nora, starting up, "it is false! I know it is false!
but I shall go raving mad if I do not prove it so!" And she rushed to
the door, tore it open, and ran out into the night and storm.

"What in the name of the law ails her?" inquired Mrs. Jones.

"Nora! Nora! Nora!" cried Hannah, running after her. "Come back! come
in! you will get your death! Are you crazy? Where are you going in the
snowstorm this time of night, without your bonnet and shawl, too?"

"To Brudenell Hall, to find out the rights of this story" were the words
that came from a great distance wafted by the wind.

"Come back! come back!" shrieked Hannah. But there was no answer.

Hannah rushed into the hut, seized her own bonnet and shawl and Nora's,
and ran out aga