saken wife
and child. At the end of a fortnight he wrote to Greenacre at the
Bilboes pressing for information. To his surprise and satisfaction this
brought about an interview on the following day. Greenacre seemed
radiant with a good conscience.

"All is going well," he declared. "Our noble friend is improving in
health, temporarily, at all events. Doubtless it is the result of
having his mind more at ease. You can't imagine, Gammon, how that man
has been tormented by remorse. I am not yet at liberty to disclose his
plans. But I shall certainly be so very soon--very soon. I won't say
Christmas, but before New Year's Day I feel confident I shall have got
things completely in order. I will only hint to you that his lordship
wishes to retire from the world, to live a perfectly quiet and simple
domestic life in a locality which will be favourable to his health. You
will agree with us, I know, that this is far better than trying to
brave the gossip and scandal of society. I may now tell you, in strict
confidence, that our friend has already written a letter to his wife,
ready to be posted as soon as ever the last details are settled. By the
by, Gammon, I hope there can be no doubt as to Lady Polperro's
willingness to concur in what her husband proposes?"

"I don't know anything about that," Gammon replied. "I can't answer for
her."

"Naturally. Of course not. But I hope there will be no unexpected
difficulty on that side. Lord Polperro has his fears, which I have done
my best to dispel. We can but hope, put our trust in the forgiving
nature of woman."

It now wanted but a very short time to Christmas. As the day drew near
Gammon felt that this state of worrying suspense was growing
intolerable. Polly's suspicions were louder, her temper became
uncertain; once or twice she forgot herself and used language
calculated to cause a breach of the peace. On these occasions Gammon
found himself doubting whether she really was the girl after his own
heart; he could have wished that she had rather less spirit. Overcome
by her persistence, he at length definitely engaged to wait no longer
than the end of the year. If by that time Greenacre had not put things
in order, Polly was to seek her aunt and make known all that they had
discovered.

"We won't be 'umbugged!" she exclaimed. "And it begins to look to me
jolly like 'umbugging. I don't know what _you_ think."

Gammon admitted that the state of things was very unsatisfactory,