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He broke off suddenly, for Sir Richard had raised his hand al up your practice here--not at this juncture, anyway You see this vile story may spread; and to quit Littlefield noould look almost like"--he hesitated--"like cowardice"

For a second Anstice stared at hih disain

"Besides, there is another aspect of the matter which has evidently not yet struck you It is very natural for you to look on this letter as a loathsome, but quite unimportant, act of spite, on the part of some secret enemy; and I understand your desire to assuht the younger hbourhood who ht be affected by a fresh flood of anonymous communications You knohom I refer?"

Suddenly Anstice saith a most unwelcome clarity of vision, what Sir Richard intended to convey; and his eyes grew hard as he replied: "You irl at Cherry Orchard , most underhand form of crime And for her sake the matter must not be allowed to rest here"

"Sir Richard"--Anstice came a step nearer his host, and Sir Richard heard, with satisfaction, the ring of steel in his voice--"you are right I did not see, at first, how peculiarly fatal this coincidence est, be circulated through the district, the old scandal would be revived And though no sane person could ever believe Mrs Carstairs guilty of such a vile action, I suppose there are a good s down to her"

"Well, you knohat people are," said Sir Richard deprecatingly, "and naturally a woman who has once been convicted, by whatever unfair means, of the same offence, is liable to be looked on with suspicion And I shouldn't like"--for a second Sir Richard, who loved Chloe Carstairs as though she had been his daughter, faltered, and cleared his throat rather huskily--"I shouldn't like that poor, pretty creature over yonder to suffer any further indignity"

"Of course not!" Anstice's eyes flashed, and he pulled hiether resolutely "And if I can help it, she shan't suffer! Just look here, Sir Richard, the first thing to do is to find out if anyone else has been, as you say, victimized"