‘I have never named it to either my brother or your cousin,’ said Mr. Lennox, with a little professional dryness of implied reproach.

’Never mind, Margaret.  I am not living in a talking, babbling world, nor yet among people who are trying to worm facts out of me; you needn’t look so frightened because you have let the cat out of the bag to a faithful old hermit like me.  I shall never name his having been in England; I shall be out of temptation, for no one will ask me.  Stay!’ (interrupting himself rather abruptly) ‘was it at your mother’s funeral?’

‘He was with mamma when she died,’ said Margaret, softly.

’To be sure!  To be sure!  Why, some one asked me if he had not been over then, and I denied it stoutly—­not many weeks ago—­who could it have been?  Oh!  I recollect!’

But he did not say the name; and although Margaret would have given much to know if her suspicions were right, and it had been Mr. Thornton who had made the enquiry, she could not ask the question of Mr. Bell, much as she longed to do so.

There was a pause for a moment or two.  Then Mr. Lennox said, addressing himself to Margaret, ’I suppose as Mr. Bell is now acquainted with all the circumstances attending your brother’s unfortunate dilemma, I cannot do better than inform him exactly how the research into the evidence we once hoped to produce in his favour stands at present.  So, if he will do me the honour to breakfast with me to-morrow, we will go over the names of these missing gentry.’

’I should like to hear all the particulars, if I may.  Cannot you come here?  I dare not ask you both to breakfast, though I am sure you would be welcome.  But let me know all I can about Frederick, even though there may be no hope at present.’

’I have an engagement at half-past eleven.  But I will certainly come if you wish it,’ replied Mr. Lennox, with a little afterthought of extreme willingness, which made Margaret shrink into herself, and almost wish that she had not proposed her natural request.  Mr. Bell got up and looked around him for his hat, which had been removed to make room for tea.

‘Well!’ said he, ’I don’t know what Mr. Lennox is inclined to do, but I’m disposed to be moving off homewards.  I’ve been a journey to-day, and journeys begin to tell upon my sixty and odd years.’

‘I believe I shall stay and see my brother and sister,’ said Mr. Lennox, making no movement of departure.  Margaret was seized with a shy awkward dread of being left alone with him.  The scene on the little terrace in the Helstone garden was so present to her, that she could hardly help believing it was so with him.

‘Don’t go yet, please, Mr. Bell,’ said she, hastily.  ’I want you to see Edith; and I want Edith to know you.  Please!’ said she, laying a light but determined hand on his arm.  He looked at her, and saw the confusion stirring in her countenance; he sate down again, as if her little touch had been possessed of resistless strength.