d, make much progress
myself. How was I to manage to speak to Evelyn alone, and without
Charles's knowledge?

At last Ralph, who had gone into the morning-room, opened the
drawing-room door and put his head in.

"Aurelia has not come down yet, and it is a quarter past nine. I wish
you would run up, Evelyn, and see if she is coming."

"She is sure to come!" replied Evelyn, without raising her eyes. "She
said she _must_ see you."

Ralph disappeared again, and the books and papers were studied anew with
unswerving devotion. At the end of another ten minutes, however, the
impatient lover reappeared.

"It is half-past nine," he said, in an injured tone. "Do pray run up,
Evelyn. I don't think she can be coming at all. I am afraid she is
worse."

Evelyn laid down her book and left the room. Ralph sauntered back into
the morning-room, where we heard him beguiling his solitude with a few
chords on the piano.

Presently Evelyn returned. She was pale even to the lips, and her voice
faltered as she said:

"She has not gone to bed, for there is a light in her room; but she
would not answer when I knocked, and the door is locked."

"All of which circumstances are not sufficient to make you as white as a
ghost," said Charles. "I think even if Aurelia has a headache, you would
bear the occurrence with fortitude. My dear child, you do not act so
well off the stage as on it. There is something on your mind. People
don't upset water at dinner, and refuse all food except pellets of
pinched bread, for nothing. What is it?"

Evelyn sank into a chair, and covered her face with her trembling hands.

"Yes, I thought so," said Charles, kneeling down by her, and gently
withdrawing her hands. "Come, Evelyn, what is it?"

"I dare not say." And she turned away her face, and tried to disengage
her hands, but Charles held them firmly.

"Is it about what happened last night?" he asked, in a tone that was
kind, but that evidently intended to have an answer.

"Yes."

"And do you know that I am suspected?"

"You, Charles? Never!" she cried, starting up.

"Yes, I. Suspected by my own father. So, if you know anything,
Evelyn--which I see you do--it is your duty to tell us, and to help us
in every way you can."

He had let go her hands now, and had risen.

"I don't know anything for certain," she said, "but--but we soon shall.
Aurelia knows, and she is going to tell Ralph."

"Miss Grant!" I exclaimed. "She knew nothing at tea-time.