Ellinor put down the letters, and went to the door, then turned back, and locked them up in her writing-case with trembling hands; and after that she entered the drawing-room, looking liker to a ghost than to a living woman.
"Can I speak to you for a minute alone ?" Her still, tuneless voice made the words into a command.

Canon Livingstone arose and followed her into the little dining-room.

"Will you tell me all you know--all you have heard about my--you know what ?" "Miss Monro was my informant--at least at first--it was in the _Times_ the day before I left.

Miss Monro says it could only have been done in a moment of anger if the old servant is really guilty; that he was as steady and good a man as she ever knew, and she seems to have a strong feeling against Mr.Dunster, as always giving your father much unnecessary trouble; in fact, she hints that his disappearance at the time was supposed to be the cause of a considerable loss of property to Mr.Wilkins." "No!" said Ellinor, eagerly, feeling that some justice ought to be done to the dead man; and then she stopped short, fearful of saying anything that should betray her full knowledge.

"I mean this," she went on; "Mr.
Dunster was a very disagreeable man personally--and papa--we none of us liked him; but he was quite honest--please remember that." The canon bowed, and said a few acquiescing words.