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proceedings； which he assumed as an act of politeness。 To his view； the
future was limited to the date at which Bulpit Brothers had a right to claim
the repayment of their loan。 The Will was a matter of no earthly
importance to him； by comparison with the infinitely superior interest of
the Marriage。 It was only when the lawyer's brutally plain language forced
his attention to it that the question of his pecuniary interest in his father…in…
law's death assumed its fit position in his mind。
_His_ color rose； and _he_ too showed that he was offended by what
Mr。 Dicas had just said。
〃Not a word； Richard！ Let me speak for you as well as for myself；〃
said Sir Joseph。 〃For seven years past；〃 he continued； turning to the lawyer；
〃I have been accustomed to place the most unlimited trust in Richard
Turlington。 His disinterested advice has enabled me largely to increase my
income； without placing a farthing of the principal in jeopardy。 On more
than one occasion； I have entreated him to make use of my money in his
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business。 He has invariably refused to do so。 Even his bitterest enemies；
sir； have been obliged to acknowledge that my interests were safe when
committed to his care。 Am I to begin distrusting him； now that I am about
to give him my daughter in marriage？ Am I to leave it on record that I
doubt him for the first timewhen my Will is opened after my death？ No！
I can confide the management of the fortune which my child will inherit
after me to no more competent or more honorable hands than the hands of
the man who is to marry her。 I maintain my appointment； Mr。 Dicas！ I
persist in placing the whole responsibility under my Will in my son…in…
law's care。〃
Turlington attempted to speak。 The lawyer attempted to speak。 Sir
Josephwith a certain simple dignity which had its effect on both of them…
…declined to hear a word on either side。 〃No； Richard！ as long as I am alive
this is my business； not yours。 No； Mr。 Dicas！ I understand that it is your
business to protest professionally。 You have protested。 Fill in the blank
space as I have told you。 Or leave the instructions on the table； and I will
send for the nearest solicitor to complete them in your place。〃
Those words placed the lawyer's position plainly before him。 He had
no choice but to do as he was bid； or to lose a good client。 He did as he
was bid； and grimly left the room
Sir Joseph； with old…fashioned politeness； followed him as far as the
hall。 Returning to the library to say a few friendly words before finally
dismissing the subject of the Will； he found himself seized by the arm； and
dragged without ceremony； in Turlington's powerful grasp； to the window。
〃Richard！〃 he exclaimed； 〃what does this mean？〃
〃Look！〃 cried the other； pointing through the window to a grassy walk
in the grounds； bounded on either side by shrubberies； and situated at a
little distance from the house。 〃Who is that man？ quick！ before we lose
sight of himthe man crossing there from one shrubbery to the other？〃 Sir
Joseph failed to recognize the figure before it disappeared。 Turlington
whispered fiercely； close to his ear〃Launcelot Linzie！〃
In perfect good faith Sir Joseph declared that the man could not
possibly have been Launce。 Turlington's frenzy of jealous suspicion was
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not to be so easily calmed。 He asked significantly for Natalie。 She was
reported to be walking in the grounds。 〃I knew it！〃 he said； with an oath
and hurried out into the grounds to discover the truth for himself。
Some little time elapsed before he came back to the house。 He had
discovered Nataliealone。 Not a sign of Launce had rewarded his search。
For the hundredth time he had offended Natalie。 For the hundredth time he
was compelled to appeal to the indulgence of her father and her aunt。 〃It
won't happen again；〃 he said； sullenly penitent。 〃You will find me quite
another man when I have got you all at my house in the country。 Mind！〃
he burst out； with a furtive look； which expressed his inveterate distrust of
Natalie and of every one about her。 〃Mind！ it's settled that you all come to
me in Somersetshire； on Monday next。〃 Sir Joseph answered rather dryly
that it was settled。 Turlington turned to leave the roomand suddenly
came back。 〃It's understood；〃 he went on； addressing Miss Lavinia； 〃that
the seventh of next month is the date fixed for the marriage。 Not a day
later！〃 Miss Lavinia replied； rather dryly on her side； 〃Of course； Richard；
not a day later。 〃He muttered； 〃All right〃 and hurriedly left them。
Half an hour afterward Natalie came in； looking a little confused。
〃Has he gone？〃 she asked； whispering to her aunt。
Relieved on this point； she made straight for the librarya room which
she rarely entered at that or any other period of the day。 Miss Lavinia
followed her； curious to know what it meant。 Natalie hurried to the
window； and waved her handkerchief evidently making a signal to some
one outside。 Miss Lavinia instantly joined her； and took her sharply by the
hand。
〃Is it possible； Natalie？〃 she asked。 〃Has Launcelot Linzie really been
here； unknown to your father or to me？〃
〃Where is the harm if he has？〃 answered Natalie； with a sudden
outbreak of temper。 〃Am I never to see my cousin again； because Mr。
Turlington happens to be jealous of him？〃
She suddenly turned away her head。 The rich color flowed over her
face and neck。 Miss Lavinia； proceeding sternly with the administration of
the necessary reproof； was silenced midway by a new change in her
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niece's variable temper。 Natalie burst into tears。 Satisfied with this
appearance of sincere contrition； the old lady consented to overlook what
had happened； and； for this occasion only； to keep her niece's secret。 They
would all be in Somersetshire； she remarked； before any more breaches of
discipline could be committed。 Richard had fortunately made no disco
veries； and the matter might safely be trusted； all things considered； to rest
where it was。
Miss Lavinia might possibly have taken a less hopeful view of the
circumstances； if she had known that one of the men…servants at Muswell
Hill was in Richard Turlington's pay； and that this servant had seen Launce
leave the grounds by the back…garden gate。
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NINTH SCENE。
The Drawing…Room。
〃Amelia！〃
〃Say something。〃
〃Ask him to sit down。〃
Thus addressing one another in whispers； the three stepdaughters of
Lady Winwood stood bewildered in their own drawing…room； helplessly
confronting an object which appeared before them on the threshold of the
door。
The date was the 23d of December。 The time was between two and
three in the afternoon。 The occasion was the return of the three sisters
from the Committee meeting of the Sacred Concerts' Society。 And the
object was Richard Turlington。
He stood hat in hand at the door； amazed by his reception。 〃I have
come up this morning from Somersetshire；〃 he said。 〃Haven't you heard？
A matter of business at the office has forced me to leave my guests at my
house in the country。 I return to them to…morrow。 When I say my guests； I
mean the Graybrookes。 Don't you know they are staying with me？ Sir
Joseph and Miss Lavinia and Natalie？〃 On the utterance of Natalie's name；
the sisters roused themselves。 They turned about and regarded each other
with looks of dismay。 Turlington's patience began to fail him。 〃Will you be
so good as to tell me what all this means？〃 he said； a little sharply。 〃Miss
Lavinia as