‘And how is he?  How is Mrs. Thornton?’ asked Margaret hurriedly and below her breath, though she tried to speak out.

’I suppose they’re well.  I’ve been staying at their house till I was driven out of it by the perpetual clack about that Thornton girl’s marriage.  It was too much for Thornton himself, though she was his sister.  He used to go and sit in his own room perpetually.  He’s getting past the age for caring for such things, either as principal or accessory.  I was surprised to find the old lady falling into the current, and carried away by her daughter’s enthusiasm for orange-blossoms and lace.  I thought Mrs. Thornton had been made of sterner stuff.’

’She would put on any assumption of feeling to veil her daughter’s weakness,’ said Margaret in a low voice.

’Perhaps so.  You’ve studied her, have you?  She doesn’t seem over fond of you, Margaret.’

‘I know it,’ said Margaret.  ‘Oh, here is tea at last!’ exclaimed she, as if relieved.  And with tea came Mr. Henry Lennox, who had walked up to Harley Street after a late dinner, and had evidently expected to find his brother and sister-in-law at home.  Margaret suspected him of being as thankful as she was at the presence of a third party, on this their first meeting since the memorable day of his offer, and her refusal at Helstone.  She could hardly tell what to say at first, and was thankful for all the tea-table occupations, which gave her an excuse for keeping silence, and him an opportunity of recovering himself.  For, to tell the truth, he had rather forced himself up to Harley Street this evening, with a view of getting over an awkward meeting, awkward even in the presence of Captain Lennox and Edith, and doubly awkward now that he found her the only lady there, and the person to whom he must naturally and perforce address a great part of his conversation.  She was the first to recover her self-possession.  She began to talk on the subject which came uppermost in her mind, after the first flush of awkward shyness.

’Mr. Lennox, I have been so much obliged to you for all you have done about Frederick.’

‘I am only sorry it has been so unsuccessful,’ replied he, with a quick glance towards Mr. Bell, as if reconnoitring how much he might say before him.  Margaret, as if she read his thought, addressed herself to Mr. Bell, both including him in the conversation, and implying that he was perfectly aware of the endeavours that had been made to clear Frederick.

’That Horrocks—­that very last witness of all, has proved as unavailing as all the others.  Mr. Lennox has discovered that he sailed for Australia only last August; only two months before Frederick was in England, and gave us the names of——­’

‘Frederick in England! you never told me that!’ exclaimed Mr. Bell in surprise.

’I thought you knew.  I never doubted you had been told.  Of course, it was a great secret, and perhaps I should not have named it now,’ said Margaret, a little dismayed.