r for Milly, perhaps, that she should know
I had heard her secret, and had been put upon my guard. But I do not
think she saw me.

It was about a quarter of an hour later when I went in, and it was
quite dark by that time. In the hall I met Mrs. Darrell, dressed for
walking.

'I am going round the shrubberies, Miss Crofton,' she said.
'Insupportably close to-night, is it not? I think we shall all have
the fever if this weather lasts.'

She did not wait for my answer, but passed out quickly. I went back
to Milly's room, and found her still sleeping peacefully. Ten
minutes afterwards I heard the rain beating against the windows, and
knew that it had set in for a wet night.

'Mrs. Darrell will not be able to go far,' I thought.

I sat by the bedside for some time thinking of what I had heard. It
was something to have had so strong a proof of Angus Egerton's
loyalty to my dear girl; and assured of that, I did not fear Mrs.
Darrell's malice. Yet I could not help wishing that the marriage had
been appointed for an earlier date, and that the time which
stepmother and daughter were to spend together had been shorter.

Milly woke, and sat up for about half an hour, supported by pillows,
to take a cup of tea, while I talked to her a little about the
pleasantest subjects I could think of. She asked if Mr. Egerton had
been at Thornleigh that evening.

'Yes, dear, he has been.'

'Did you see him, Mary?'

'No; I did not see him.'

She gave a little disappointed sigh. It was her delight to hear me
repeat his messages to her, word for word, ever so many times over.

'Then you have nothing to tell me about him, dear?'

'Nothing; except that I know he loves you.'

'Ah, Mary, there was a time when you doubted him.'

'That time is quite past and gone, dear.'

She kissed me as she gave me back her cup and saucer, and promised
to go to sleep again, while I went to my room to write a long letter
home.

I was occupied in this way for more than an hour; and then, having
sealed my letter, went down with it to the hall, to put it on a
table where all letters intended to be taken to the post in the
morning were placed over-night.

It was nearly ten o'clock by this time, and I was startled by the
sound of the hall-door opening softly from without, while I was
putting down my letter. I looked round quietly, and saw Mrs. Darrell
coming in, with dripping garments.

'Good gracious me!' I cried involuntarily; 'have you been out