conclusions We were guessing quite in the dark; and all the distressing
things I had noticed at the inn might admit of some totally different
explanation. He would have gone on splitting straws in that provoking
way the whole morning if I hadn't stopped him. I was strictly logical.
I said _I_ had seen Anne, and _he_ hadn't--and that made all the
difference. I said, 'Every thing that puzzled and frightened me in the
poor darling is accounted for now. The law must, and shall, reach
that man, uncle--and I'll pay for it!' I was so much in earnest that
I believe I cried a little. What do you think the dear old man did? He
took me on his knee and gave me a kiss; and he said, in the nicest way,
that he would adopt my view, for the present, if I would promise not to
cry any more; and--wait! the cream of it is to come!--that he would put
the view in quite a new light to me as soon as I was composed again. You
may imagine how soon I dried my eyes, and what a picture of composure I
presented in the course of half a minute. 'Let us take it for granted,'
says Sir Patrick, 'that this man unknown has really tried to deceive
Miss Silvester, as you and I suppose. I can tell you one thing: it's as
likely as not that, in trying to overreach _her,_ he may (without in the
least suspecting it) have ended in overreaching himself.'"

(Geoffrey held his breath. The pen dropped unheeded from his fingers. It
was coming. The light that his brother couldn't throw on the subject was
dawning on it at last!)

Blanche resumed:

"I was so interested, and it made such a tremendous impression on me,
that I haven't forgotten a word. 'I mustn't make that poor little head
of yours ache with Scotch law,' my uncle said; 'I must put it plainly.
There are marriages allowed in Scotland, Blanche, which are called