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dismissing the subject of the Will； he found himself seized by the arm； and
dragged without ceremony； in Turlington's powerful grasp； to the window。
〃Richard！〃 he exclaimed； 〃what does this mean？〃
〃Look！〃 cried the other； pointing through the window to a grassy walk
in the grounds； bounded on either side by shrubberies； and situated at a
little distance from the house。 〃Who is that man？ quick！ before we lose
sight of himthe man crossing there from one shrubbery to the other？〃 Sir
Joseph failed to recognize the figure before it disappeared。 Turlington
whispered fiercely； close to his ear〃Launcelot Linzie！〃
In perfect good faith Sir Joseph declared that the man could not
possibly have been Launce。 Turlington's frenzy of jealous suspicion was
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not to be so easily calmed。 He asked significantly for Natalie。 She was
reported to be walking in the grounds。 〃I knew it！〃 he said； with an oath
and hurried out into the grounds to discover the truth for himself。
Some little time elapsed before he came back to the house。 He had
discovered Nataliealone。 Not a sign of Launce had rewarded his search。
For the hundredth time he had offended Natalie。 For the hundredth time he
was compelled to appeal to the indulgence of her father and her aunt。 〃It
won't happen again；〃 he said； sullenly penitent。 〃You will find me quite
another man when I have got you all at my house in the country。 Mind！〃
he burst out； with a furtive look； which expressed his inveterate distrust of
Natalie and of every one about her。 〃Mind！ it's settled that you all come to
me in Somersetshire； on Monday next。〃 Sir Joseph answered rather dryly
that it was settled。 Turlington turned to leave the roomand suddenly
came back。 〃It's understood；〃 he went on； addressing Miss Lavinia； 〃that
the seventh of next month is the date fixed for the marriage。 Not a day
later！〃 Miss Lavinia replied； rather dryly on her side； 〃Of course； Richard；
not a day later。 〃He muttered； 〃All right〃 and hurriedly left them。
Half an hour afterward Natalie came in； looking a little confused。
〃Has he gone？〃 she asked； whispering to her aunt。
Relieved on this point； she made straight for the librarya room which
she rarely entered at that or any other period of the day。 Miss Lavinia
followed her； curious to know what it meant。 Natalie hurried to the
window； and waved her handkerchief evidently making a signal to some
one outside。 Miss Lavinia instantly joined her； and took her sharply by the
hand。
〃Is it possible； Natalie？〃 she asked。 〃Has Launcelot Linzie really been
here； unknown to your father or to me？〃
〃Where is the harm if he has？〃 answered Natalie； with a sudden
outbreak of temper。 〃Am I never to see my cousin again； because Mr。
Turlington happens to be jealous of him？〃
She suddenly turned away her head。 The rich color flowed over her
face and neck。 Miss Lavinia； proceeding sternly with the administration of
the necessary reproof； was silenced midway by a new change in her
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Miss or Mrs。？
niece's variable temper。 Natalie burst into tears。 Satisfied with this
appearance of sincere contrition； the old lady consented to overlook what
had happened； and； for this occasion only； to keep her niece's secret。 They
would all be in Somersetshire； she remarked； before any more breaches of
discipline could be committed。 Richard had fortunately made no disco
veries； and the matter might safely be trusted； all things considered； to rest
where it was。
Miss Lavinia might possibly have taken a less hopeful view of the
circumstances； if she had known that one of the men…servants at Muswell
Hill was in Richard Turlington's pay； and that this servant had seen Launce
leave the grounds by the back…garden gate。
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Miss or Mrs。？
NINTH SCENE。
The Drawing…Room。
〃Amelia！〃
〃Say something。〃
〃Ask him to sit down。〃
Thus addressing one another in whispers； the three stepdaughters of
Lady Winwood stood bewildered in their own drawing…room； helplessly
confronting an object which appeared before them on the threshold of the
door。
The date was the 23d of December。 The time was between two and
three in the afternoon。 The occasion was the return of the three sisters
from the Committee meeting of the Sacred Concerts' Society。 And the
object was Richard Turlington。
He stood hat in hand at the door； amazed by his reception。 〃I have
come up this morning from Somersetshire；〃 he said。 〃Haven't you heard？
A matter of business at the office has forced me to leave my guests at my
house in the country。 I return to them to…morrow。 When I say my guests； I
mean the Graybrookes。 Don't you know they are staying with me？ Sir
Joseph and Miss Lavinia and Natalie？〃 On the utterance of Natalie's name；
the sisters roused themselves。 They turned about and regarded each other
with looks of dismay。 Turlington's patience began to fail him。 〃Will you be
so good as to tell me what all this means？〃 he said； a little sharply。 〃Miss
Lavinia asked me to call here when she heard I was coming to town。 I was
to take charge of a pattern for a dress； which she said you would give me。
You ought to have received a telegram explaining it all； hours since。 Has
the message not reached you？〃
The leading spirit of the three sisters was Miss Amelia。 She was the
first who summoned presence of mind enough to give a plain answer to
Turlington's plain question。
〃We received the telegram this morning； 〃she said。 〃Something has
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happened since which has shocked and surprised us。 We beg your pardon。〃
She turned to one of her sisters。 〃Sophia； the pattern is ready in the drawer
of that table behind you。 Give it to Mr。 Turlington。〃
Sophia produced the packet。 Before she handed it to the visitor； she