"Perhaps your cousin Alfred Dinks has arrived," said Abel, carelessly, as
he closed his port-folio.

Hope Wayne stopped, and, standing very erect, turned and looked at him.

"Do you know my cousin, Mr. Dinks?"

"Not at all."

"How did you know that I had such a cousin?"

"I heard it somewhere," answered Abel, gently and respectfully, but
looking at Hope with a curious glance which seemed to her to penetrate
every pore in her body. That glance said as plainly as words could have
said, "And I heard you were engaged to him."

Hope Wayne looked serious for a moment; then she said, with a half smile,

"I suppose it is no secret that Alfred Dinks is my cousin;" and, bowing
to Abel, she went swiftly over the lawn toward the house.




CHAPTER XI.

A VERDICT AND A SENTENCE.