able to be of some service to you in your--your
very difficult position. I did not like to seem to force myself upon
you, but I hoped--I confidently hoped that you would send for me, if it
was in my power to be of the slightest assistance to you."

"Oh, yes--thank you so much--if I had needed anybody. But there were
only too many kind friends."

"Aha! Yes, I expect so." His eye lighted and his lip curled craftily.
"I have no doubt whatever of THAT. 'Where the carcase is--' You know
the rest?"

"I am not a carcase," she rallied him playfully--for quite the first
time in her life.

"No, indeed; I should have said 'prey'. Ah, my dear De--Miss
Pennycuick, you will find plenty and to spare of so-called friends,
professing anxiety to serve you, when their only object is to serve
themselves."

"I expect so," she assented, smiling.

"So young a girl"--subtle flattery this, now that Deb was in her late
thirties--"to be suddenly called to a position of such immense danger
and responsibility! But"--cheeringly--"I said when I heard of it that
Mr Thornycroft had justified my high opinion of his judgment and
character. It is not often that great wealth comes into hands so worthy
of it."

"I am afraid they are not very worthy," sighed Deb. Mr Goldsworthy knew
better. He knew HER better--not only from personal intercourse, the
observation and intuition of a man trained to read character, but from
the loving representations of his dear wife.

"Where is she?" Miss Pennycuick asked abruptly. "Not out, I hope?"

"Out--hardly! She will be here in a moment. I am afraid, when you see
her, you will think her looking delicate. The state of her health is a
matter of the most anxious concern to me."

"What is the matter with her health? She was always well at home. We
used to think her the strongest of the family--until--"

"Until she fell into the clutches of that dreadful man," Mr Goldsworthy
concluded for her.

"Oh!"--Deb coloured and frowned--"that is not what I was going to say."
(What she had really been going to say was--"until her marriage.") "And
why do you rake up that old story? I thought it had all been forgotten
long ago."

"It has been unpleasantly revived," said Mr Goldsworthy solemnly. "And
it is my duty to tell you about it, if you have not heard."

Deb looked equally annoyed and alarmed. "What has been revived?" she
asked.

He dropped his voice apologetically.

"I have been hearing of his going on in exactl