‘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 came only from him you might not credit it.  And he has not seen her.  If your cousin Roger tells you that it is true,—­tells me that he...