"I was prepared for this outbreak," she said, sadly. "These wild words relieve your overburdened heart, my poor child. I can wait, Blanche-I can wait!"

Blanche stopped, and confronted Lady Lundie.

"You and I never liked each other," she said. "I wrote you a pert letter from this place. I have always taken Anne's part against you. I have shown you plainly-rudely, I dare say-that I was glad to be married and get away from you. This is not your revenge, is it?"

"Oh, Blanche, Blanche, what thoughts to think! what words to say! I can only pray for you."

"I am mad, Lady Lundie. You bear with mad people. Bear with me. I have been hardly more than a fortnight married. I love him-I love herwith all my heart. Remember what you have told me about them. Remember! remember! remem

ber!"

She reiterated the words with a low cry of pain. Her hands went up to her head again; and she returned restlessly to pacing this way and that in the room.

strance.

Lady Lundie tried the effect of a gentle remon"For your own sake," she said, "don't persist in estranging yourself from me. In this dreadful trial, I am the only friend you have."

Blanche came back to her stepmother's chair;

and looked at her steadily, in silence. Lady Lundie submitted to inspection-and bore it perfectly.

"Look into my heart," she said.

bleeds for you!"

Blanche heard, without heeding.

painfully intent on its own thoughts.

religious woman," she said, abruptly.

"Blanche! it

Her mind was

"You are a

"Will you

swear on your Bible, that what you have told me is true ?"

"My Bible!" repeated Lady Lundie, with sorrowful emphasis. "Oh, my child! have you no part in that precious inheritance? Is it not your Bible,

too?"

A momentary triumph showed itself in Blanche's face. "You daren't swear it!" she said.

enough for me!"

"That's

She turned away scornfully. Lady Lady Lundie caught her by the hand, and drew her sharply back. The suffering saint disappeared; and the woman who was no longer to be trifled with, took her place.

"There must be an end to this," she said. "You don't believe what I have told you.

courage enough to put it to the test ?"

Have you

Blanche started, and released her hand.

She

trembled a little. There was a horrible certainty

of conviction expressed in Lady Lundie's sudden change of manner.

"How?" she asked.

"You shall see. Tell me the truth, on your

VOL. III.

3

side, first.

Where is Sir Patrick?

Is he really

out as his servant told me ?".

"Yes. He is out with the farm bailiff. You

have taken us all by surprise.

You wrote that we

were to expect you by the next train."

"When does the next train arrive? It is eleven

o'clock now."

"Between one and two."

"Sir Patrick will not be back till then ?"

"Not till then."

"Where is Mr. Brinkworth ?”

66 My husband?"

"Your husband-if you like. Is he out, too?" "He is in the smoking-room."

"Do you mean the long room, built out from the

back of the house ?"

66 Yes."

"Come downstairs at once with me."

Blanche advanced a step and drew back. "What do you want of me?" she asked, inspired by a sudden distrust.

Lady Lundie turned round, and looked at her impatiently.

"Can't you see, yet," she said, sharply, "that your interest, and my interest, in this matter, are one ? What have I told you?"

"Don't repeat it!"

"I must repeat it! I have told you that Arnold Brinkworth was at the inn at Craig Fernie, with

Miss Silvester, in the acknowledged character of her husband-when we supposed him to be visiting the estate left to him by his aunt. You refuse to believe it and I am about to put it to the proof. Is it your interest or is it not, to know whether this man deserves the blind belief that you place in him?"

Blanche trembled from head to foot, and made no reply.

"I am going into the garden, to speak to Mr. Brinkworth through the smoking-room window," pursued her ladyship. "Have you the courage to come with me; to wait behind out of sight; and to hear what he says with his own lips? I am not afraid of putting it to that test. Are you?"

The tone in which the question was asked, roused Blanche's spirit.

"If I believed him to be guilty," she said, resolutely, "I should not have the courage. I believe him to be innocent. Lead the way, Lady Lundie, as soon as you please.'

Lady

They left the room-Blanche's own room at Ham Farm-and descended to the hall. Lundie stopped, and consulted the railway timetable hanging near the house-door.

"There is a train to London at a quarter to twelve," she said. "How long does it take to

walk to the station ?"

"Why do you ask?"

"You will soon know. Answer my question." "It's a walk of twenty minutes to the station." Lady Lundie referred to her watch. "There will be just time," she said.

"Time for what?"

"Come into the garden."

With that answer she led the way out.

The smoking-room projected at right angles from the wall of the house, in an oblong form-with a bow window at the farther end, looking into the garden. Before she turned the corner, and showed herself within the range of view from the window, Lady Lundie looked back, and signed to Blanche to wait behind the angle of the wall. Blanche waited.

The next instant she heard the voices in conversation through the open window. Arnold's voice

was the first that spoke.

"Lady Lundie! Why we didn't expect you till luncheon time!"

Lady Lundie was ready with her answer.

"I was able to leave town earlier than I had anticipated. Don't put out your cigar; and don't move. I am not coming in.”

The quick interchange of question and answer went on; every word being audible in the perfect stillness of the place. Arnold was the next to speak.

'Have you seen Blanche ?"