"The sort that one always does tell of an unmarried man,"
retorted Caranby. "Scandalous stories, which Isabella picked
up and retailed to Selina. But I never pretended to be a
saint, and had Selina really loved me she would have
overlooked certain faults. I did love her, Cuthbert. I did
all in my power to prove my love. For a time I was engaged to
her, and when she expressed a wish that I should build her a
house after her own design, I consented."

"The house at Rexton!" exclaimed the young man.

"Exactly. I got an architect to build it according to designs
suggested by Selina. When our engagement was broken and I
became--out of pique, remember--engaged to Miss Saul, I
still went on building the house. Selina, I believe, was very
angry. One week when I was out of London she went down with
her sister to see the house, and there met Emilia."

"Ah! then there was trouble?"

"No; there was no time for a quarrel, if that is what you
mean. When the three met, Emilia was walking across a plank
on the unfinished second story. On seeing the Loach girls--
this is Isabella's tale--Emilia lost her footing and fell
thirty feet. She was killed almost instantaneously, and her
face was much disfigured. This took place during the dinner
hour when the workmen were absent. When they returned, the
body was found and recognized by the clothes."

"Did not the girls remain?"