pronounced, either a very stupid or a downright bad man, to neglect his
child so.

You will notice that perhaps because of Fyne's solemn view of our
transient life and Mrs. Fyne's natural capacity for responsibility, it
had never occurred to them that the simplest way out of the difficulty
was to do nothing and dismiss the matter as no concern of theirs. Which
in a strict worldly sense it certainly was not. But they spent, Fyne
told me, a most disturbed afternoon, considering the ways and means of
dealing with the danger hanging over the head of the girl out for a ride
(and no doubt enjoying herself) with an abominable scamp.



CHAPTER FOUR--THE GOVERNESS


And the best of it was that the danger was all over already. There was
no danger any more. The supposed nephew's appearance had a purpose. He
had come, full, full to trembling--with the bigness of his news. There
must have been rumours already as to the shaky position of the de
Barral's concerns; but only amongst those in the very inmost know. No
rumour or echo of rumour had reached the profane in the West-End--let
alone in the guileless marine suburb of Hove. The Fynes had no
suspicion; the governess, playing with cold, distinguished exclusiveness
the part of mother to the fabulously wealthy Miss de Barral, had no
suspicion; the masters of music, of drawing, of dancing to Miss de
Barral, had no idea; the minds of her medical man, of her dentist, of the
servants in the house, of the tradesmen proud of having the name of de
Barral on their books, were in a state of absolute serenity. Thus, that