would be absolutely out of the question to leave the
sisters in ignorance of each other, even supposing the circumstances
made continued ignorance possible. The risks to the health or
brain-power of either would surely be greater if the _eclaircissement_
were left to haphazard, than if she were controlling it with a previous
knowledge of all the facts. Perhaps Gwen was not aware how much her
inborn temperament had to do with her conclusions. Had she been a
soldier, she would have volunteered to go on every forlorn hope, on
principle. No doubt an "hysterical" temperament, as it is so common
among women! But it is a form of hysteria that exists also among men.

Whether or no, here she was at the gate of Strides Cottage, and it was
now too late to think of going back. Tom Kettering was requesting the
mare, in stable language, not to kick _terra firma_, or otherwise object
to standing, till he had assisted the lady down. She was down without
assistance before the mare was convinced of sin, so Tom touched his hat
vaguely, but committed himself to nothing. He appeared to understand--as
he didn't say he didn't, when instructed--that he was to wait five
minutes; and then, if nothing appeared to the contrary, employ himself
and the mare in any way they could agree upon, for an hour; and then
return to pick her up.

The cat, the only inmate visible at Strides, rose from the threshold to
welcome the visitor, with explanations perfectly clear to Gwen--who
understood cats--that if it had been within her power to reach the
door-latch, she would have opened the door, entirely to accommodate her
ladyship. She had no mixture of motives, arising from having been shut
out. Gwen threw doubt on this; as, having rung the bell, she waited. She
might have rung again but for Elizabeth-next-door; who, coming out with
advisory powers, said that Mrs. Thrale was probably engaged with the old
lady, but that she herself would go straight in if she was her ladyship.
Not being able to reach the latch herself over the privet-hedge between
them, the good woman was coming round to open the door, but went back
when Gwen anticipated her, and entering the empty front-room, heard the
voices in the bedroom behind. How strange it seemed to her, to wait
there, overhearing them, and knowing that the old voice was that of a
mother speaking to her unknown daughter, and that each was unsuspicious
of the other.

The dog who trotted in from the passage between the r