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'I do not believe a word of it,' said Hetta, leaving the room But when she was alone she was very wretched There must be some foundation for such a tale Why should Felix have referred to Roger Carbury? And she did feel that there was so in her brother'saltogether baseless So she sat upon her bed and cried, and thought of all the tales she had heard of faithless lovers And yet why should the man have co her hand in e, if it really were true that he was in daily communication with another wo on the subject was said at dinner Hetta with difficulty to herself sat at the table, and did not speak Lady Carbury and her son were nearly as silent Soon after dinner Felix slunk away to some gles Then Lady Carbury, who had now been told as hter Very much of the story Felix had learned froed to Mrs Hurtle Mrs Hurtle had at once declared the fact to Mrs Pipkin, and Mrs Pipkin had been proud of the position of her lodger Ruby had herself seen Paul Montague at the house, and had known that he had taken Mrs Hurtle to Lowestoft And it had also become known to the toer Carbury on the sands at Lowestoft Thus the whole story with most of its details,--not quite with all,--had come round to Lady Carbury's ears 'What he has told you, ue, you do not suppose that I would deceive you'

'How can he know, mamma?'

'He does know I cannot explain to you how He has been at the same house'

'Has he seen her?'

'I do not know that he has, but Roger Carbury has seen her If I write to him you will believe what he says?'

'Don't do that, mamma Don't write to him'

'But I shall Why should I not write if he can tell me? If this other man is a villain am I not bound to protect you? Of course Felix is not steady If it caht not credit it And he has not seen her If your cousin Roger tells you that it is true,--tells ed to marry this woman, then I suppose you will be contented'