"Did you think I was lost? I was seduced into joining your
missionary-meeting people, and have had to stop late at the office, to
make up for it."

"We have been talking about papa, Hamish," said Constance. "Fresh hope
seems to arise daily that those German baths would restore him to
health. They cured Dr. Lamb."

"I say, Hamish, that the money must be found for it somehow," added Mr.
Yorke.

"Found! of course it shall be found," cried gay Hamish. "I intend to be
a chief contributor to it myself." But his joking words and careless
manner jarred at that moment upon the spirit both of Arthur and
Constance Channing.

Why? Could there have been any unconscious foreshadowing of evil to
come?





CHAPTER XVII.


SUNDAY MORNING AT MR. CHANNING'S, AND AT LADY AUGUSTA'S.

The day of rest came round in due course. A day of rest it is in truth
to those who have learnt to make it such; a pleasant time of peace; a