epositions were taken and forms filled, and the Dean was allowed to
depart with an understanding that he was to be forthcoming immediately
when wanted. He suggested that it had been his intention to go down to
Brotherton on the following day, but the Superintendent of Police
recommended him to abandon that idea. The superintendent thought that
the Dean had better make arrangements to stay in London till the end of
the week.

CHAPTER XLII.

"NOT GO!"

The Dean had a great deal to think of as he walked home a little too
late for his daughter's usual dinner hour. What should he tell
her;--and what should he do as to communicating or not communicating
tidings of the day's work to Lord George? Of course everybody must know
what had been done sooner or later. He would have had no objection to
that,--providing the truth could be told accurately,--except as to the
mention of his daughter's name in the same sentence with that
abominable word. But the word would surely be known, and the facts
would not be told with accuracy unless he told them himself. His only,
but his fully sufficient defence was in the word. But who would know
the tone? Who would understand the look of the man's eye and the smile
on his mouth? Who could be made to conceive, as the Dean himself had
conceived, the aggravated injury of the premeditated slander? He would
certainly write and tell Lord George everything. But to his daughter he
thought that he would tell as little as possible. Might God in his
mercy save her ears, her sacred feelings, her pure heart from the wound
of that word! He felt that she was dearer to him than ever she had
been,--that he would give up deanery and everything if he could save
her by doing so. But he felt that if she were to be sacrificed in the
contest, he would give up deanery and everything in avenging her.

But something must be told to her. He at any rate must remain in town,
and it would be very desirable that she should stay with him. If she
went alone she would at once be taken to Cross Hall; and he could
understand that the recent occurrence would not add to the serenity of
her life there. The name that had been applied to her, together with
the late folly of which her husband had been guilty, would give those
Manor Cross dragons,--as the Dean was apt in his own thoughts to call
the Ladies Germain--a tremendous hold over her. And should she be once
at Cross Hall he would hardly be able to get her back to the