"Where do you expect to begin your 'sarchin''?" she said, leaning on
the chair and tilting it before her; "or are you as vague as usual as to
locality? Is it at some 'Mr. Johnson' or 'Mr. Pico,' or--"

"Here," he interrupted boldly.

"I really think you ought to first tell my cousin that you are going
away to-morrow," she said, with a faint smile. "It's such short notice.
She's just in there." She nodded her pretty head, without raising her
eyes, towards the hall.

"But it may not be so soon," said Mainwaring.

"Oh, then the 'sarchin'' is not so important?" said Louise, raising
her head, and looking towards the hall with some uneasy but indefinable
feminine instinct.

She was right; the sitting-room door opened, and Mrs. Bradley made her
smiling appearance.

"Mr. Mainwaring was just looking for you," said Louise, for the first
time raising her eyes to him. "He's not only sent off Mr. Richardson,
but he's going away himself to-morrow."

Mrs. Bradley looked from the one to the other in mute wonder. Mainwaring
cast an imploring glance at Louise, which had the desired effect. Much
more seriously, and in a quaint, business-like way, the young girl took
it upon herself to explain to Mrs. Bradley that Richardson had brought
the invalid some important news that would, unfortunately, not only