"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself!" Mrs. Gereth broke out with a change of note that showed how deep a passion underlay everything she had said. The poor woman, catching her companion's hand, however, the next moment, as if to retract something of this harshness, spoke more patiently. "Don't you understand, Fleda, how immensely, how devotedly, I've trusted you?" Her tone was indeed a supplication. "It was near it, I was told, an hour ago—the fury of the flames had got such a start. I was there myself at six, the very first I heard of it. They were fighting it then, but you couldn't quite say they had got it down."!

She felt sick; she sank upon a seat, staring up at him. "Do you mean that great house is lost?" "Oh, if you count the ghosts!"

"Her natural charm!" Mrs. Gereth could barely articulate. "I'll leave it all to my solicitor. He won't let her off: by Jove, I know the fellow!" "I don't know," said Owen. "I thought I might hear this morning."