As Mrs. Easterfield was going away—­she had waited and waited for the captain who had not come—­Olive detained her.

“You are so dear,” she said, “that I must tell you a great thing.”  And then she told the story of the two men in the barouche.

Mrs. Easterfield turned pale, and sat down again.  She had actually lost her self-possession.  She made Olive tell her the story over and over again.  “It is too much,” she said, “for one day.  I am glad the captain is not here, I would not know what to say to him.  I may tell Tom?” she said.  “I must tell him; he will be silent as a rock.”

Olive smiled.  “Yes, you may tell Tom,” she said.

“I have told Dick, but on no account must Harry ever know anything about it.”

Mrs. Easterfield looked at her in amazement.  That the girl could joke at such a moment!

When the captain came home Olive told him how she had entrusted the great secret to Mrs. Easterfield and her husband.

“Well,” said he, “I intended to tell you, but haven’t had a chance yet, that I spoke of the matter to Mrs. Faulkner.  So I have told two persons and you have told three, and I suppose that is about the proportion in which men and women keep secrets.”

CHAPTER XXXVII

In which Some Great Changes are Recorded.

A few days after his return to his college Prof.  Richard Lancaster found among his letters one signed “Your backer, Claude Locker.”

The letter began: 

“You owe her to me.  You should never forget that.  If I had done better no one can say what might have been the result.  This proposition can not be gainsaid, for as no one ever saw me do better, how should anybody know?  I knew I was leaving her to you.  She might not have known it, but I did.  I did not suppose it would come so soon, but I was sure it would ultimately come to pass.  It has come to pass, and I feel triumphant.  In the great race in which I had the honor to run, you made a most admirable second.  The best second is he who comes in first.  In order for a second to take first place it is necessary that the leader in the race, be that leader horse, man, or boat, should experience a change in conditions.  I experienced such a change, voluntary or involuntary it is unnecessary to say.  You came in first, and I congratulate you as no living being can congratulate you who has not felt for a moment or two that it was barely possible that he might, in some period of existence, occupy the position which you now hold.

“Do not be surprised if you hear of my early marriage.  Some woman no better-looking than I am may seek me out.  If this should happen, and you know of it, please think of me with gratitude, and remember that I was once

    “Your backer,

    “CLAUDE LOCKER.”

Olive also received a letter from Mr. Locker, which ran thus: