Since the beginning of her visit to her sister, Lady Anstruthers, the exact dates of mail steamers seemed to be of increased importance.
Miss Vanderpoel evidently found much to write about.

Each steamer brought a full-looking envelope to be placed in a prominent position.
On a hot morning in the early summer Mr.Germen found two or three--two of them of larger size and seeming to contain business papers.

These he placed where they would be seen at once.

Mr.Vanderpoel was a little later than usual in his arrival.

At this season he came from his place in the country, and before leaving it this morning he had been talking to his wife, whom he found rather disturbed by a chance encounter with a young woman who had returned to visit her mother after a year spent in England with her English husband.