“Did Mr. Sinclair notify you that he was going to have a new line run?” Jasper enquired.

“No, I knew nothing about what was taking place until I received that letter.”

“I wonder what suggested such a thing to him?” Jasper mused as if to himself.  “There must have been something.”

“Why, I think I know.”  Betty exclaimed.  “I do not believe he ever thought about it until that day he was talking to Mr. David and me up the brook.  We were near Pyramid Rock, and I told him about the mistake the surveyor had made years ago in running the line.  He seemed to be very much interested then.  Maybe that was what started it.  Just think, it was all my fault.  Oh, if I could only hold my tongue once in a while how much good it would do.”

At that instant a knock sounded upon the door, and when Betty had opened it Lois entered.  She looked surprised when she saw the visitors in the room, and at once noticed the worried expression upon Mrs. Bean’s face.

“This must be your special afternoon for receiving company,” she remarked with a smile, as she took David’s hand.  “It isn’t often you have Mrs. Bean and Mr. Randall to see you on the same day, is it?”

“Mr. Randall has been here before,” was the reply, “but this is the first time that Mrs. Bean has favoured me with a call.  It was special business which brought her here to-day.”

“You’re not going to take Betty away from Mr. David, are you?” Lois asked, turning to Mrs. Bean.

“Oh, no; it is something far different from that.  It is a very serious matter, I assure you.”

“What, no one ill at home, I hope?”

“No.  The boys were well when I left.”

An awkward silence followed, and Lois felt that there was something of a private nature which these people were discussing, and that she had interrupted their conversation.

Jasper, who had risen to his feet as Lois entered the room, divined the thoughts which were passing through her mind, and came to her assistance.

“Let Miss Sinclair see the letter, Mrs. Bean,” he suggested.  “Perhaps it will explain matters better than we can.”

Without a word Mrs. Bean complied with this request, and then leaned back in her chair with a deep sigh.

Much mystified, Lois ran her eyes over the letter, and as she did so her face underwent a marvellous transformation.  The sunny expression departed and the colour faded from her cheeks, leaving them very white.  The words seemed to fascinate her, and for a while she stood staring upon them.  Then a tremor shook her body, and her right hand closed, crushing the letter within it.  With a strong effort she regained her composure and turned toward the widow.

“I cannot understand this,” she began.  “I had no idea that my father would do such a thing.  There must be some mistake.  I shall go now and think it all over.  Will you come with me, Mr. Randall?  I would like to speak with you.”