Whether I sat for only a few minutes or an hour I cannot tell; but, all of a sudden, a flame seemed to fill the room-my hand was empty, and I knew I had destroyed it." "Destroyed what, aunt ?"

"The-the-his certificate of marriage. The woman was called Matilda Williams, and they were married at Hatfield. I have never forgotten that. Often when I am ill I get no rest, because I keep repeating those names over and over again."

"Was there no word of explanation, then?" said Katherine, fearing she was wandering away from the subject.

"Oh, yes. He wrote to tell me that, in a moment of madness, to which my marriage drove him, he had allowed this woman to cajole him into a marriage, that he had a son, whom, for Stephen's sake, he would fain disown. But though he had made away with every other trace of his guilty

folly, he said he could not destroy this, and by a crime cut himself off from me for ever. Therefore, he had enclosed it to meenclosed it to me, a weak, helpless woman, who had not strength to resist such a temptation."

And her sobs broke forth again, and her remorse and accusations made it impossible for Mrs. Labouchere to bring her back to anything like a settled detail. She managed to draw from her, how she knew who the child was with, Mr. Despard's offer, and that he had finally taken entire charge of him; but Mrs. Prescott would only just answer the question put to her, and then return at once to her fears, her selfreproaches, and her agony of dread lest Stephen should suffer for her guilt. Her excitement became so painful, that Mrs. Labouchere wisely forbore to ask more, fearing an attack of illness might come on,

and she be prevented following Stephen, which the next morning she was determined upon doing. This she told Mrs. Prescott, who at once promised she would be quiet; do anything, take anything, if Katherine would but say she would go to London, and start as early as possible.

"I will give you my word, aunt, to have no delay."

And this assurance seeming to calm Mrs. Prescott more than entreaties or remonstrances, she became at once busy about how Mrs. Labouchere had best act? where she would go? what she would do? until, everything settled, she took the composing draught her niece gave her, and Katherine, sitting quietly down, tried to realise all her aunt had just told her. But the excitement and amazement had been too much; she could not think-she could only keep repeating, "Stephen, Stephen."

CHAPTER VII.

"A man's eye upon the countenance of him with whom he speaketh may give him a direction how far to go."

IN

BACON.

her anxiety to begin her journey, Mrs. Labouchere was ready to start a good hour before it was time to leave the house; but having been assured that, as the tide would not suit until a certain hour, she would only be kept waiting on the Hard, she sat down until the time for departure should arrive. It was a lovely morning, but its fresh beauties were all lost upon Katherine, whose one anxiety was that the day should be sufficiently calm to enable her to go to Dockmouth by water, and

thereby save the train, which on the previous day had taken off Sir Stephen. She had ascertained from his man that he intended going on at once to Pamphillon.

"You are certain of that, Fenton ?" she asked.

“Oh, yes, ma'am, for I heard master say to Captain Carthew, 'I shall just have time to see about that matter, and then catch the train to Pamphillon;' and so he would, ma'am, easily catch the four o'clock express.

"In that case," thought Katherine, "I ought to be prepared to follow him there at once, and if I do not find him in Albemarlestreet, that is what I'll do."

She was busily intent upon her plans when the door opened, and Leo Despard entered. Strive as she might, Katherine could not meet him in her usual way, and he, noticing her agitation, said—

"I fear I startled you.'