'What else should she be suffering from? I will never forgive you, Julian, for bringing that crazy impostor into my house.'

'My dear aunt, when I was the innocent means of bringing her here I had no idea that such a person as Miss Roseberry was in existence. Nobody laments what has happened more sincerely than I do. Have you had medical advice?'

'I took her to the seaside a week since, by medical advice.'

'Has the change of air done her no good?'

'None whatever. If anything, the change of air has made her worse. Sometimes she sits for hours together, as pale as death, without looking at anything, and without uttering a word. Sometimes she brightens up, and seems as if she was eager to say somethingand then, Heaven only knows why, checks herself suddenly as if she was afraid to speak. I could support that. But what cuts me to the heart, Julian, is that she does not appear to trust me and to love me as she did. She seems to be doubtful of me; she seems to be frightened of me. If I did not know that it was simply impossible that such a thing could be, I should really think she suspected me of believing what that wretch said of her. In one word (and between ourselves), I begin to fear she will never get over the fright which caused that fainting fit. There is serious mischief somewhere-and try as I may to discover it, it is mischief beyond my finding.'

Can the doctor do nothing?'

Lady Janet's bright black eyes answered, before she replied in words, with a look of supreme contempt.

'The doctor!' she repeated disdainfully. 'I brought Grace back last night in sheer despair, and I sent for the doctor this morning. He is at the head of his profession; he is said to be making ten thousand a yearand he knows no more about it than I do. I am quite serious. The great physician has just gone away with two guineas in his pocket. One guinea for advising me to keep her quiet; another guinea for telling me to trust to time. Do you wonder how he gets on at this rate? My dear boy, they all get on in the same way. The medical profession thrives on two incurable diseases in these modern days-a He-disease and a She-disease. She-disease nervous depression; He-disease suppressed gout. Remedies, one guinea if you go to the doctor; two guineas if the doctor goes to you. I might have bought a new bonnet,' cried her ladyship indignantly, with the money I have given to that man! Let us change the subject. I lose my temper when I think of it. Besides, I want to know something. Why did you go abroad?'

At that plain question Julian looked unaffectedly surprised. I wrote to explain,' he said. 'Have you not received my letter?'

'Oh, I got your letter. It was long enough, in all conscience—and, long as it was, it didn't tell me the one thing I wanted to know.'

"What is the "one thing?"

Lady Janet's reply pointed-not too palpably at first

-at that second motive for Julian's journey which she had suspected Julian of concealing from her.

I want to know,' she said, why you troubled yourself to make your enquiries on the Continent in person? You know where my old courier is to be found. You have yourself pronounced him to be the most intelligent and trustworthy of men. Answer me honestly-could you not have sent him in your place?'

'I might have sent him,' Julian admitted-a little reluctantly.

'You might have sent the courier-and you were under an engagement to stay here as my guest. Answer me honestly once more. Why did you go away?'

Julian hesitated. Lady Janet paused for his reply, with the air of a woman who was prepared to wait (if necessary) for the rest of the afternoon.

"I had a reason of my own for going,' Julian said at last.

"Yes?' rejoined Lady Janet, prepared to wait (if necessary) till the next morning.

'A reason,' Julian resumed, which I would rather not mention.'

6

Oh!' said Lady Janet. Another mystery-eh? And another woman at the bottom of it, no doubt? Thank you that will do-I am sufficiently answered. No wonder as a clergyman-that you look a little confused. There is perhaps a certain grace, under the circumstances, in looking confused. We will change the subject again. You stay here, of course, now you have come back?'

Once more the famous pulpit orator seemed to find

himself in the inconceivable predicament of not knowing what to say. Once more Lady Janet looked resigned to wait-(if necessary) until the middle of next week.

Julian took refuge in an answer worthy of the most commonplace man on the face of the civilised earth.

'I beg your ladyship to accept my thanks and my excuses,' he said.

Lady Janet's many-ringed fingers, mechanically stroking the cat in her lap, began to stroke him the wrong way. Lady Janet's inexhaustible patience showed signs of failing her at last.

'Mighty civil, I am sure,' she said. 'Make it complete. Say, Mr. Julian Gray presents his compliments to Lady Janet Roy, and regrets that a previous engagement-Julian!' exclaimed the old lady, suddenly pushing the cat off her lap, and flinging her last pretence of good temper to the winds- Julian, I am not to be trifled with! There is but one explanation of your conduct you are evidently avoiding my house. there somebody you dislike in it? Is it me?'

Is

Julian intimated by a gesture that his aunt's last question was absurd. (The much-injured cat elevated his back, waved his tail slowly, walked to the fireplace, and honoured the rug by taking a seat on it.)

Lady Janet persisted.

asked next.

Is it Grace Roseberry?' she

Even Julian's patience began to show signs of yielding. His manner assumed a sudden decision, his voice rose a tone louder.

You insist on knowing?' he said. It is Miss Roseberry.'

'You don't like her?' cried Lady Janet, with a sudden burst of angry surprise.

Julian broke out, on his side. 'If I see any more of her,' he answered, the rare colour mounting suddenly in his cheeks, I shall be the unhappiest man living. If I see any more of her, I shall be false to my old friend who is to marry her. Keep us apart. If you have any regard for my peace of mind, keep us apart.'

Unutterable amazement expressed itself in his aunt's lifted hands. Ungovernable curiosity uttered itself in

his aunt's next words.

'You don't mean to tell me you are in love with Grace?'

Julian sprang restlessly to his feet, and disturbed the cat at the fireplace. (The cat left the room.)

I don't know what to tell you,' he said, 'I can't realise it to myself. No other woman has ever roused the feeling in me which this woman seems to have called to life in an instant. In the hope of forgetting her I broke my engagement here; I purposely seized the opportunity of making those enquiries abroad. Quite useless. I think of her morning, noon, and night. I see her and hear her, at this moment, as plainly as I see and hear You. She has made her-self a part of my-self. I don't understand my life without her. My power of will seems to be gone. I said to myself this morning, "I will write to my aunt; I won't go back to Mablethorpe House." Here I am in Mablethorpe House, with a mean subterfuge to justify me to my own conscience. "I owe it to my aunt to call on my aunt." That is what I said to myself on the way here; and I was secretly hoping