quiver to her voice.

Uncle Bob was astonished at her tone, and said so.

"I assure you, Mr. Vandegrift, I have her own word for it." She produced
a note from her bag.

"Her word for what?" he asked.

"Why, for--oh, Mr. Vandegrift, let us not waste time in futile fencing.
You must know that Margaret Elizabeth has deceived me; has been guilty
of base ingratitude; has been meeting clandestinely a person--a mere
adventurer. I can scarcely bring myself to say it. My brother Richard's
daughter!" Mrs. Pennington had recourse to her handkerchief.

Uncle Bob uncrossed his knees and sat bolt upright. "Madame," he
exclaimed, "I am sorry for your distress, whatever its cause, but let me
assure you, you are under some grave mistake. My niece has met no one
clandestinely, and is incapable of deceit and treachery."

"Do I understand then that it was with your connivance?"

"I have connived at nothing, Madame, and I know of no adventurer." Uncle
Bob took his penknife from his pocket and tapped on the table with it.
His manner was legal in the extreme. He was enjoying himself.

Mrs. Pennington looked over her handkerchief. "But she says,
herself----"

"Says she has been guilty of deceit and treachery? Has been meeting an