‘Do you think he will come to-night?’

’I scarcely think he can, Netta.  You know he is obliged to hide, dear, do you not? for—­’

’Yes, yes! he told me for a few days for debt, and then he would come back.  But he didn’t murder Captain Dancy, did he?’

Netta started up and fixed her eyes wildly on her brother.

‘No,—­I assure you, no!  I saw some one who saw Captain Dancy yesterday.’

‘Thank God! thank God!’

’And, Netta, I do not think he can venture to come back just yet; so you must try to get well for all our sakes.’

’Yes, I will, that I may go to him.  I will sleep now.  Put Minette by my side.  Poor Minette!’

Rowland laid the child’s head on her mother’s lap, and arranged the pillows for Netta, and then went, with a heart full to bursting, to Mrs Saunders.

‘Mrs Saunders,’ he said, ’I know that I can trust you.  The poor lady to whom you have been so kind is my own sister, for whom we have been anxiously searching all this time.  I don’t know how far secrecy may be necessary, but, at present at least, do no let this fact go beyond yourself.  Her husband has reduced her to what you see.  I must leave her for half-an-hour; meanwhile, will you prepare supper, make a cheerful fire, let off the gas, and give us a couple of candles?  Make the room as home-like as you can, in short.  After my sister and the little girl are gone to bed, put a couple of blankets on the sofa in the sitting-room for me.  I cannot leave her to-night.’

‘Excuse me, sir,’ said Mrs Saunders, ’wouldn’t your sleeping here excite observation, if secrecy is necessary.  You may depend on my care.  Sarah has slept on the sofa for a fortnight, unknown to Mrs Mills, to be within call.’

’Perhaps you are right; but I want to make my sister fancy she is at home.  It might recall her mind, which is evidently wandering.  I shall be back soon.’

Rowland walked as fast as he could to Mr Jones’.  He found him, his wife, and Freda together in his library.

‘I must apologise for coming so late,’ he began; ’but I know you are so kindly interested in my poor sister that you will excuse me.  I have found her and her child, and cannot prevail on her to leave her rooms at Mrs Saunders’, where she is.’

Then Rowland told his friends shortly how he had found her, and that he feared her mind was in a most uncertain state.

’She evidently does not know her husband’s crimes, but thinks he is hiding on account of debt, and is expecting him to fetch her away every moment.  I think if we could distract her thoughts from this one subject she might get better; but she is very ill, bodily as well as mentally.’

‘Would not the sight of old friends be the best restorative?’ suggested Miss Gwynne.  ’Gladys and I could go to her, and as we are in the habit of visiting the sick in the parish, no suspicion could attach to our being with her; for it would never do, in poor Netta’s state, to expose her to inquisitive people connected with her husband’s flight.’