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emained much longer in the same house with Emily； the impression that she had produced on him would be certainly strengthenedand he would be guilty of the folly of making an offer of marriage to a woman who was as poor as himself。 The one remedy that could be trusted to preserve him from such infatuation as this； was absence。 At the end of the week； he had arranged to return to Vale Regis for his Sunday duty； engaging to join his friends again at Monksmoor on the Monday following。 That rash promise； there could be no further doubt about it； must not be fulfilled。
He had arrived at this resolution； when the terrible activity of Mr。 Wyvil's bow was suspended by the appearance of a third person in the room。
Cecilia's maid was charged with a neat little three…cornered note from her young lady； to be presented to her master。 Wondering why his daughter should write to him； Mr。 Wyvil opened the note； and was informed of Cecilia's motive in these words：
〃DEAREST PAPAI hear Mr。 Mirabel is with you； and as this is a secret； I must write。 Emily has received a very strange letter this morning； which puzzles her and alarms me。 When you are quite at liberty； we shall be so much obliged if you will tell us how Emily ought to answer it。〃
Mr。 Wyvil stopped Mirabel； on the point of trying to escape from the music。 〃A little domestic matter to attend to；〃 he said。 〃But we will finish the sonata first。〃
CHAPTER XL。
CONSULTING。
Out of the music room； and away from his violin； the sound side of Mr。 Wyvil's character was free to assert itself。 In his public and in his private capacity； he was an eminently sensible man。
As a member of parliament； he set an example which might have been followed with advantage by many of his colleagues。 In the first place he abstained from hastening the downfall of representative institutions by asking questions and making speeches。 In the second place； he was able to distinguish between the duty that he owed to his party； and the duty that he owed to his country。 When the Legislature acted politicallythat is to say； when it dealt with foreign complications； or electoral reformshe followed his leader。 When the Legislature acted sociallythat is to say； for the good of the peoplehe followed his conscience。 On the last occasion when the great Russian bugbear provoked a division； he voted submissively with his Conservative allies。 But； when the question of opening museums and picture galleries on Sundays arrayed the two parties in hostile camps； he broke into open mutiny； and went over to the Liberals。 He consented to help in preventing an extension of the franchise； but he refused to be concerned in obstructing the repeal of taxes on knowledge。 〃I am doubtful in the first case；〃 he said； 〃but I am sure in the second。〃 He was asked for an explanation： 〃Doubtful of what？ and sure of what？〃 To the astonishment of his leader； he answered： 〃The benefit to the people。〃 The same sound sense appeared in the transactions of his private life。 Lazy and dishonest servants found that the gentlest of masters had a side to his character which took them by surprise。 And； on certain occasions in the experience of Cecilia and her sister； the most indulgent of fathers proved to be as capable of saying No； as the sternest tyrant who ever ruled a fireside。
Called into council by his daughter and his guest； Mr。 Wyvil assisted them by advice which was equally wise and kindbut which afterward proved； under the perverse influence of circumstances； to be advice that he had better not have given。
The letter to Emily which Cecilia had recommended to her father's consideration； had come from Netherwoods； and had been written by Alban Morris。
He assured Emily that he had only decided on writing to her； after some hesitation； in the hope of serving interests which he did not himself understand； but which might prove to be interests worthy of consideration； nevertheless。 Having stated his motive in these terms； he proceeded to relate what had passed between Miss Jethro and himself。 On the subject of Francine； Alban only ventured to add that she had not produced a favorable impression on him； and that he could not think her likely； on further experience； to prove a desirable friend。
On the last leaf were added some lines； which Emily was at no loss how to answer。 She had folded back the page； so that no eyes but her own should see how the poor drawing…master finished his letter： 〃I wish you all possible happiness； my dear； among your new friends； but don't forget the old friend who thinks of you； and dreams of you； and longs to see you again。 The little world I live in is a dreary world； Emily； in your absence。 Will you write to me now and then； and encourage me to hope？〃
Mr。 Wyvil smiled； as he looked at the folded page； which hid the signature。
〃I suppose I may take it for granted；〃 he said slyly； 〃that this gentleman really has your interests at heart？ May I know who he is？〃
Emily answered the last question readily enough。 Mr。 Wyvil went on with his inquiries。 〃About the mysterious lady； with the strange name；〃 he proceeded〃do you know anything of her？〃
Emily related what she knew； without revealing the true reason for Miss Jethro's departure from Netherwoods。 In after years； it was one of her most treasured remembrances； that she had kept secret the melancholy confession which had startled her； on the last night of her life at school。
Mr。 Wyvil looked at Alban's letter again。 〃Do you know how Miss Jethro became acquainted with Mr。 Mirabel？〃 he asked。
〃I didn't even know that they were acquainted。〃
〃Do you think it likelyif Mr。 Morris had been talking to you instead of writing to youthat he might have said more than he has said in his letter？〃
Cecilia had hitherto remained a model of discretion。 Seeing Emily hesitate； temptation overcame her。 〃Not a doubt of it； papa！〃 she declared confidently。
〃Is Cecilia right？〃 Mr。 Wyvil inquired。
Reminded in this way of her influence over Alban； Emily could only make one honest reply。 She admitted that Cecilia was right。
Mr。 Wyvil thereupon advised her not to express any opinion； until she was in a better position to judge for herself。 〃When you write to Mr。 Morris；〃 he continued； 〃say that you will wait to tell him what you think of Miss Jethro； until you see him again。〃
〃I have no prospect at present of seeing him again；〃 Emily said。
〃You can see Mr。 Morris whenever it suits him to come here；〃 Mr。 Wyvil replied。 〃I will write and ask him to visit us； and you can inclose the invitation in your letter。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Wyvil； how good of you！〃
〃Oh； papa； the very thing I was going to ask you to do！〃
The excellent master of Monksmoor looked unaffectedly surprised。 〃What are you two young ladies making a fuss about？〃 he said。 〃Mr。 Morris is a gentleman by profession； andmay I venture to say it； Miss Emily？a valued friend of yours as well。 Who has a better claim to be one of my guests？〃
Cecilia stopped her father as he was about to leave the room。 〃I suppose we mustn't ask Mr。 Mirabel what he knows of Miss Jethro？〃 she said。
〃My dear； what can you be thinking of？ What right have we to question Mr。 Mirabel about Miss Jethro？〃
〃It's s