Then, being a discerning woman, she went out softly with a curious smile, and did not at any time mention what she had seen.
It was that evening, and Barrington had departed suddenly on business to Winnipeg, when Dane rode up to the Grange.

He asked for Miss Barrington and her niece, and when he heard that his comrade was recovering sensibility, sat down looking very grave.
"I have something to tell you, but Courthorne must not know until he is better, while I'm not sure that we need tell him then," he said.
"In the meanwhile, I am also inclined to fancy it would be better kept from Colonel Barrington on his return.

It is the first time anything of the kind has happened at Silverdale, and it would hurt him horribly, which decided us to come first to you." "You must be more concise," said Miss Barrington; quietly, and Dane trifled with the hat in his hand.
"It is," he said, "a most unpleasant thing, and is known to three men only, of whom I am one.

We have also arranged that nobody else will chance upon what we have discovered.

You see, Ferris is unfortunately connected with you, and his people have had trouble enough already." "Ferris ?" said Maud Barrington, with a sudden hardening of her face.
"You surely don't mean--" Dane nodded.