’H’m!  But you cannot mean that this youth can have been imprisoned for such a cause.’

’No; that was about the money, but of course he sent it back.  He ran away when he was dismissed, because he was quite in despair, and did not know what he was about.’

‘I think not, indeed!’

‘Papa,’ said Gillian, steadying her voice, ’you must not, please, blame him so much, for it was really very much my fault, and that is what makes me doubly unhappy.  Did you read my last letter to mamma?’

’Yes.  I understood that you thought you had not treated your aunts rightly by not consulting them about your intercourse with the Whites, and that you had very properly resolved to tell them all.  I hope you did so.’

’Indeed I did, and Aunt Jane was very kind, or else I should have had no comfort at all.  Was mamma very much shocked at my teaching Alexis?’

’I do not remember.  We concluded that whatever you did had your aunts’ sanction.’

‘Ah! that was the point.’

‘Did these young people persuade you to secrecy?’

’Oh no, no; Kalliope protested, and I overpowered her, because—–­ because I was foolish, and I thought Aunt Jane interfering.’

‘I see,’ said Sir Jasper, with perhaps more comprehension of the antagonism than sisterly habit and affection would have allowed to his wife.  ’I am glad you saw your error, and tried to repair it; but what could you have done to affect this boy so much.  How old is he?  We thought of him as twelve or fourteen, but one forgets how time goes on, and you speak of him as in a kind of superintendent’s position.’

‘He is nineteen.’

Sir Jasper twirled his moustache.

‘I begin to perceive,’ he said, ’you rushed into an undertaking that became awkward, and when you had to draw off, the young fellow was upset and did not mind his business.  So far I understand, but you said something about prison.’

The worst part of the personal confession was over now, and Gillian could go on to tell the rest of the Stebbing enmity, of Mr. White’s arrival, and of the desire to keep his relations aloof from him.

‘This is guess work,’ said Sir Jasper.

‘I think Cousin Rotherwood would say the same’ rejoined Gillian, and then she explained the dismissal, the flight, and the unfortunate consequences, and that Aunt Jane hoped for advice by the morning’s post.

‘I am afraid it is too late for that,’ said Sir Jasper, looking at his watch.  ‘I must read her letter and consider.’

Gillian gave a desperate sigh, and felt more desperate when at that moment the very man they had had a glimpse of on Saturday met them, exclaiming in a highly delighted tone—–­

‘Sir Jasper Merrifield!’