circumstances bring us together; and for God's sake be kind to your
stepdaughter! Do not think of her as a rival; my love for you had
died long before I saw her. You need bear no malice against her on
that account. Good-night.'

'Good-night.'

I heard the drawing-room door open and shut, and knew that he was
gone. I walked on past the open windows, not caring if Mrs. Darrell
saw me. It might be better for Milly, perhaps, that she should know
I had heard her secret, and had been put upon my guard. But I do not
think she saw me.

It was about a quarter of an hour later when I went in, and it was
quite dark by that time. In the hall I met Mrs. Darrell, dressed for
walking.

'I am going round the shrubberies, Miss Crofton,' she said.
'Insupportably close to-night, is it not? I think we shall all have
the fever if this weather lasts.'

She did not wait for my answer, but passed out quickly. I went back
to Milly's room, and found her still sleeping peacefully. Ten
minutes afterwards I heard the rain beating against the windows, and
knew that it had set in for a wet night.

'Mrs. Darrell will not be able to go far,' I thought.

I sat by the bedside for some time thinking of what I had heard. It
was something to have had so strong a proof of Angus Egerton's