means. Why couldn't he see me,
like an honest man? It's very extraordinary, this running away before
breakfast, saying good-bye to nobody."

She mused stormily, her eye ever and again turning upon the girl.

"Look here, May; do you think Constance knows anything about it?"

"I really can't say--I don't see how--"

"It was she that brought me his letter. Do you think he spoke to her?"

"About me?" exclaimed May, uneasily. "Oh! I don't think so--I never
noticed that they were friendly."

"Ring the bell."

Constance Bride was sent for. Some moments passed; Lady Ogram stamped
impatiently. She ordered May to ring again, and demanded why Miss Bride
kept her waiting. Considerably more than five minutes had elapsed
before the figure of the secretary appeared: her face wore an
expression of proud indifference, and at the sight of May's subdued,
timid air, she smiled coldly.

"Why have you been so long?" cried Lady Ogram.

"I came as soon as I could," was the clear reply.

"Now listen to me, Constance," broke vehemently from the bloodless
lips. "I'll have no nonsense! You understand that? I'll not be played
with. Deceive me, or treat me in any way unbecomingly, and you shall
remember it the longest day you live. I want to know whether Lord
Dymchurch said anything to you to explain his sudden departure?"

"To me? Certainly not."

"Now mind! I'll get at the truth of this. You know me! May says that
Lord Dymchurch never proposed to her at all. What do you make of that?"

Constance glanced at Miss Tomalin, whose eyes fell. Again she smiled.

"It's very strange," she answered, with a certain air of sympathy.
"That's really all I can say. It's impossible to have any opinion about
such a personal matter, which doesn't in the least concern me."

"Please remember, aunt," put in May, "that I only said I didn't
_understand_ Lord Dymchurch in that sense."

"Are you a fool, girl!" screeched the autocrat, violently. "I never
thought you so, and if he had said anything that was meant for an offer
of marriage, you would have understood it quickly enough. Either you're
telling me the truth, or you're lying. Either he proposed to you, or he
didn't."

May caught the look of Constance turned upon her; it suggested
amusement, and this touched her feelings far more deeply than the old
lady's strong language.

"I am obliged to remind you, aunt," she said, her cheek flushing, "that
I have no experience of--of this kind of thing. If