‘But the verdict?’

’They said it was accidental death, and something about more care being taken and valuable lives endangered.’

‘And Alexis White—–­’

’Oh! there was a great bother about his not being there.  They said it looked very bad; but they could not find him.’

‘Not find him!  Oh!  Where is Cousin Rotherwood?’

’He is coming home, and he said I might run on, and tell you that if you had time to come in to the hotel he would tell you about it.’

With which invitation Miss Mohun hastened to comply; Gillian was ardent to come too, and it seemed cruel to prevent her; but, besides that Jane thought that her cousin might be tired enough to make his wife wish him to see as few people as possible, she was not sure that Gillian might not show suspicious agitation, and speech and action would not be free in her presence.  So the poor girl was left to extract what she could from her little brother, which did not amount to much.

It was a propitious moment, for Jane met Lord Rotherwood at the door of the hotel, parting with Mr. White; she entered with him, and his wife, after satisfying herself that he was not the worse for his exertions, was not sorry that he should have his cousin to keep him quiet in his easy-chair while she went off to answer a pile of letters which had just been forwarded from home.

‘Well, Jenny,’ he said, ’I am afraid your protege does not come out of it very well; that is, if he is your protege.  He must be an uncommonly foolish young man.’

’I reserve myself on that point.  But is it true that he never appeared?’

‘Quite true.’

‘Didn’t they send for him?’

’Yes; but he could not be found, either at the works or at home.  However, the first might be so far accounted for, since he met at his desk a notice of dismissal from White and Stebbing.’

’No!  Really.  Concocted at that unlucky dinner yesterday!  But, of course, it was not immediate.’

’Of course not, and perhaps something might have been done for him; but a man who disappears condemns himself.’

’But what for?  I hope Fergus explained that the stone was not near the spot when he showed it.’

’Yes; Fergus spoke up like a little man, and got more credit than he deserved.  If they had known that of all varieties of boys the scientific is the worst imp of mischief!  It all went in order due—–­ surgeon explained injuries to poor little being—–­men how the stone came down and they dug him out—–­poor little baby-sister made out her sad little story.  That was the worst part of all.  Something must be done for that child—–­orphanage or something—–­only unluckily there’s the father and mother.  Poor father! he is the one to be pitied.  I mean to get at him without the woman.  Well, then came my turn, and how I am afflicted with the habit of going where I ought not, and, only by a wonderful mercy, was saved from