e heard I was
coming to town. I was to take charge of a pattern for a dress, which she
said you would give me. You ought to have received a telegram explaining
it all, hours since. Has the message not reached you?"

The leading spirit of the three sisters was Miss Amelia. She was the
first who summoned presence of mind enough to give a plain answer to
Turlington's plain question.

"We received the telegram this morning," she said. "Something has
happened since which has shocked and surprised us. We beg your pardon."
She turned to one of her sisters. "Sophia, the pattern is ready in the
drawer of that table behind you. Give it to Mr. Turlington."

Sophia produced the packet. Before she handed it to the visitor, she
looked at her sister. "Ought we to let Mr. Turlington go," she asked,
"as if nothing had happened?"

Amelia considered silently with herself. Dorothea, the third sister
(who had not spoken yet), came forward with a suggestion. She proposed,
before proceeding further, to inquire whether Lady Winwood was in the
house. The idea was instantly adopted. Sophia rang the bell. Amelia put
the questions when the servant appeared.

Lady Winwood had left the house for a drive immediately after luncheon.
Lord Winwood--inquired for next--had accompanied her ladyship. No
message had been left indicating the hour of their return.

The sisters looked at Turlington, uncertain what to say or do next. Miss
Amelia addressed him as soon as the servant had left the room.

"Is it possible for you to remain here until either my father or Lady
Winwood return?" she asked.

"It is quite impossible. Minutes are of importance to me to-day."

"Will you give us one of your minutes? We want to consider something
which we may have to say to you before you go."

Turlington, wondering, took a chair. Miss Amelia put the case before her
sisters from the sternly conscientious point of view, at the opposite
end of the room.

"We have not found out this abominable deception by any underhand
means," she said. "The discovery has been forced upon us, and we stand
pledged to nobody to keep the secret. Knowing as we do how cruelly this
gentleman has been used, it seems to me that we are bound in honor to
open his eyes to the truth. If we remain silent we make ourselves
Lady Winwood's accomplices. I, for one--I don't care what may come of
it--refuse to do that."

Her sisters agreed with her. The first chance their clever stepmother
had given