"You are over-tired, father, or you would not have thought of that--just now." Deringham glanced at her curiously with an unpleasant smile.

"You apparently did not comprehend me," he said.

"Would you be astonished to hear that Alton, who seems to have anticipated disaster, left you Carnaby by will ?" The girl rose and met the man's gaze directly, though the colour had crept beyond her cheeks now.

"No," she said very quietly; "though I never thought of this.

I know him better than ever you could do.