been.

Then he went away rather abruptly, feeling burdened with the further
apologies she made with respect to Alec.




CHAPTER XIX.


Trenholme went home and sat down to write an article for a magazine. Its
subject was the discipline of life. He did not get on with it very well.
He rose more than once to look at the weather-glass and the weather.
Rain came in torrents, ceasing at intervals. The clouds swept over, with
lighter and darker spaces among them. The wind began to rise. Thunder
was in the air; as it became dusk lightning was seen in the far
distance.

A little after dark he heard a quick, light step upon the garden path.
The voice of the young dentist was audible at the door, and Mrs. Martha
ushered him into the study. Trenholme had felt more or less prejudice
against this fellow since he had become aware that he was in some way
connected with the incident that had discomforted his brother in his
lonely station. He looked at him with a glance of severe inquiry.

"I'm _real_ sorry to disturb you," said the dentist; "but, upon my word,
I'm uneasy in my mind. I've lost old Mr. Cameron."

It occurred to Trenholme now for the first time since he had heard of