"Very well. Now answer me this! What is to prevent her from making

another attempt to force her way (or steal her way) into my house? How

am I to protect Grace, how am I to protect myself, if she comes here

again?"

"Is that really what you wished to speak to me about?"

"That, and nothing else."

They were both too deeply interested in the subject of their

conversation to look toward the conservatory, and to notice the

appearance at that moment of a distant gentleman among the plants and

flowers, who had made his way in from the garden outside. Advancing

noiselessly on the soft Indian matting, the gentleman ere long revealed

himself under the form and features of Horace Holmcroft. Before entering

the dining-room he paused, fixing his eyes inquisitively on the back

of Lady Janet's visitor--the back being all that he could see in the

position he then occupied. After a pause of an instant the visitor

spoke, and further uncertainty was at once at an end. Horace,

nevertheless, made no movement to enter the room. He had his own jealous

distrust of what Julian might be tempted to say at a private interview

with his aunt; and he waited a little longer on the chance that his

doubts might be verified.

"Neither you nor Miss Roseberry need any protection from the poor

deluded creature," Julian went on. "I have gained great influence over

her--and I have satisfied her that it is useless to present herself here

again."

"I beg your pardon," interposed Horace, speaking from the conservatory

door. "You have done nothing of the sort."

(He had heard enough to satisfy him that the talk was not taking the

direction which his Suspicions had anticipated. And, as an additional

incentive to show himself, a happy chance had now offered him the

opportunity of putting Julian in the wrong.) "Good heavens, Horace!" exclaimed Lady Janet. "Where did you come from?

And what do you mean?"

"I heard at the lodge that your ladyship and Grace had returned last

night. And I came in at once without troubling the servants, by the

shortest way." He turned to Julian next. "The woman you were speaking of

just now," he proceeded, "has been here again already--in Lady Janet's

absence."

Lady Janet immediately looked at her nephew. Julian reassured her by a

gesture.

"Impossible," he said. "There must be some mistake."

"There is no mistake," Horace rejoined. "I am repeating what I have just

heard from the lodge-keeper himself. He hesitated to mention it to Lady

Janet for fear of alarming her. Only three days since this person had

the audacity to ask him for her ladyship's address at the sea-side. Of

course he refused to give it."

"You hear that, Julian?" said Lady Janet.

No signs of anger or mortification escaped Julian. The expression in his

face at that moment was an expression of sincere distress.




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