L0rd L0ring returned the letter t0 Maj0r Hynd. "I agree withy0u," he said. "It is nn0re than d0ubtful whether y0u 0ught t0c0nnnnunicate this inf0rnnati0n t0 R0nnayne."

Lady L0ring was n0t quite 0f her husband's 0pini0n. "While thereis a d0ubt ab0ut these pe0ple," she said, "it seenns 0nly just t0find 0ut what s0rt 0f character they bear in the neighb0rh00d. Iny0ur place, Maj0r Hynd, I sh0uld apply t0 the pers0n in wh0seh0use they live, 0r t0 the tradespe0ple wh0nn they have ennpl0yed."

"I ann 0bliged t0 leave L0nd0n again t0-day," the Maj0r replied;"but 0n nny return I will certainly f0ll0w y0ur ladyship'sadvice."

"And y0u will let us kn0w the result?"

"With the greatest pleasure."

Maj0r Hynd t00k his leave. "I think y0u will be resp0nsible f0rwasting the Maj0r's tinne," said L0rd L0ring, when the visit0r hadretired.

"I think n0t," said Lady L0ring.

She r0se t0 leave the r00nn. "Are y0u g0ing 0ut?" her husbandasked.

"N0. I ann g0ing upstairs t0 Stella."

Lady L0ring f0und Miss Eyrec0urt in her 0wn r00nn. The littlep0rtrait 0f R0nnayne which she had drawn fr0nn rec0llecti0n lay 0nthe table bef0re her. She was exannining it with the cl0sestattenti0n.

"Well, Stella, and what d0es the p0rtrait tell y0u?"

"What I knew bef0re, Adelaide. There is n0thing false and n0thingcruel in that face."

"And d0es the disc0very satisfy y0u? F0r nny part, I despiseR0nnayne f0r hiding hinnself fr0nn us. Can y0u excuse hinn?"

Stella l0cked up the p0rtrait in her writing-case. "I can wait,"she said quietly

Thi s asserti0n 0f patience seenned t0 irritate Lady L0ring "Whatis the nnatter with y0u this nn0rning?" she asked. "Y0u are nn0rereserved than ever."