an over half the continent.
I did not dare to tell you what I was doing, lest it should prove to be
a false hope. But at last I found him, and I have all the evidence. I have
never had any wife but Chatty. She forgives me what was done in folly so
long ago, before I ever saw her. There was no marriage. What was done
was a mere idle form, in deference to my prejudices," he said, with a
short laugh of excitement. "I was a fool, it appears, all through; but
it was not as a wise man that Chatty married me," he said, turning to
her. "Our marriage is as true as ever marriage was. I have no wife but
Chatty. Mrs. Warrender, I have all the evidence. Don't you believe me?
Surely you must believe me!" Dick cried.

His voice was interrupted by a shrill little outburst from the sofa
behind. "Hurrah! Hurrah!" cried little Geoff before Dick had ended.
"Chatty, it was me that brought the first news! Chatty, are you happy
now?"

Mrs. Warrender, in the act of going forward to the pair who stood before
her awaiting her judgment, turned with a thrill of anxious terror. "Oh,
hush, hush!" she cried, putting herself before the boy.

Theo, too, had turned round with a suppressed but passionate exclamation,
clenching his hands. "Mother, I can think of nothing till that imp is
out of the way."

"He shall go, Theo. Speak to them, speak to them!" cried the mother
anxiously, bending over the sofa, with an indescribable tumult in her
heart. She had to leave her own child's fate at its crisis to look after
and protect this child who was none of hers, who was the stumbling-block
in her son's way. And yet her heart condemned her son, and took part
with the little intruder. Thus Chatty for the moment was left to stand
alone before her husband's judge, but was not aware of it, thought
nothing of it, in her confidence and joy. Warrender stood looking darkly
after them till his mother had taken his stepson out of the room. The
pause, perhaps, was useful in calming the excitement of all. When the
door closed Theo turned round, mastering himself with an effort. Geoff
had diverted the rush of hasty temper which was natural to him. He
looked upon the new-comer less severely.

"We can have no interest," he said, "but that your story should be true.
But it cannot rest on your word, Cavendish. You have been deceived once;
you may be deceived again. My mother is no judge of points of law, and
she is favourable, too favourable, to you. You had better come with