ct of the Will, he found himself seized by
the arm, and dragged without ceremony, in Turlington's powerful grasp,
to the window.

"Richard!" he exclaimed, "what does this mean?"

"Look!" cried the other, pointing through the window to a grassy walk
in the grounds, bounded on either side by shrubberies, and situated at a
little distance from the house. "Who is that man?--quick! before we lose
sight of him--the man crossing there from one shrubbery to the other?"
Sir Joseph failed to recognize the figure before it disappeared.
Turlington whispered fiercely, close to his ear--"Launcelot Linzie!"

In perfect good faith Sir Joseph declared that the man could not
possibly have been Launce. Turlington's frenzy of jealous suspicion was
not to be so easily calmed. He asked significantly for Natalie. She was
reported to be walking in the grounds. "I knew it!" he said, with
an oath--and hurried out into the grounds to discover the truth for
himself.

Some little time elapsed before he came back to the house. He had
discovered Natalie--alone. Not a sign of Launce had rewarded his search.
For the hundredth time he had offended Natalie. For the hundredth time
he was compelled to appeal to the indulgence of her father and her aunt.
"It won't happen again," he said, sullenly penitent. "You will find me
quite another man when I have got you all at my house in the country.
Mind!" he burst out, with a furtive look, which expressed his inveterate
distrust of Natalie and of every one about her. "Mind! it's settled
that you all come to me in Somersetshire, on Monday next." Sir Joseph
answered rather dryly that it was settled. Turlington turned to leave
the room--and suddenly came back. "It's understood," he went on,
addressing Miss Lavinia, "that the seventh of next month is the date
fixed for the marriage. Not a day later!" Miss Lavinia replied, rather
dryly on her side, "Of course, Richard; not a day later." He muttered,
"All right" and hurriedly left them.

Half an hour afterward Natalie came in, looking a little confused.

"Has he gone?" she asked, whispering to her aunt.

Relieved on this point, she made straight for the library--a room which
she rarely entered at that or any other period of the day. Miss Lavinia
followed her, curious to know what it meant. Natalie hurried to the
window, and waved her handkerchief--evidently making a signal to some
one outside. Miss Lavinia instantly joined her, and took her sharply by
the hand.