e hole in the
ceiling of the little bedroom. Empty had a reputation to sustain, and
his conscience never troubled him as to how his news was obtained.

CHAPTER XXV

PERVERTING JUSTICE

Douglas did not remain long at Mrs. Dempster's after his conversation
with Jean. Bidding the widow and Joe good-bye, he made his way swiftly
across the fields by a well-worn path to the main highway. He was
anxious to see Nell as she had been much in his mind since the night of
the attack. To his joy, he found her sitting alone by the big tree on
the shore with a book lying open in her lap. An expression of pleasure
overspread her face as she welcomed her visitor, and offered him a
chair by her side.

"Father was sitting here," she explained, "but he became unusually
sleepy this afternoon, so he is now lying down in the house. Nan is
out in the boat with Sadie Parks, a girl friend, gathering
water-lilies, so I have been having a quiet time all by myself."

"A most remarkable thing for you, is it not?" Douglas asked, mentally
blessing the professor for becoming sleepy, and Nan for going for the
lilies.

"It certainly is. It has been a long time since I have not read to
father every Sunday afternoon."

It seemed to Douglas as if heaven had suddenly opened to him as he sat
there by Nell's side. She looked more beautiful than ever, so he
thought, clad in a simple dress of snowy whiteness, open at the throat,
exposing a little gold cross, pendant from a delicate chain fastened
around her neck. Her dark, luxuriant hair was brushed carefully back,
though a few wayward tresses drifted temptingly over cheek and brow.
Her dark sympathetic eyes beamed with interest as Douglas related his
experiences of the day, and his conversation with the invalid girl.

"I am so thankful that Jean knows the truth," she quietly remarked when
Douglas had finished. "But isn't it terrible what Ben did to her at
Long Wharf! I knew he was bad, but I had no idea he would do such a
thing as that."

Further private conversation was now out of the question on account of
Nan's arrival with her girl friend. She was carrying a large bunch of
dripping white water-lilies, which she flung down upon the ground.

"My, what a nice little cosy time you two are having," she exclaimed.
"It is too bad that you have to be disturbed."

"It certainly is," Douglas laughingly replied. "We were quite happy
here by ourselves. Why didn't you stay longer out on