"Janie was very affectionate," she said, "but passionate in temper, and obstinate when thwarted. She had a curious amount of pride--much more than one usually finds in so young a girl or one of her extraction. Her high spirits too were a snare to her. She was reproved three days ago for laughing aloud in a chapel; and, as she showed an unsubmissive spirit, she was sent into a room alone in order to meditate. Into this room one of our lay Sisters went by accident, not knowing that Jane Wood was there for seclusion, and began to talk to her. This young woman, Martha by name, came from the neighborhood of Beechfield, and happened to mention Mrs. Rumbold." "Ah, I see!" Hubert exclaimed involuntarily. "Jane questioned her about the place--questioned her particularly, I believe, about a gentleman that she remembered. I think, Mr. Lepel, that she must have been thinking of yourself, according to the description that Martha tells us she gave of him; but Martha could not tell her your name, which it seems the child did not know. It was natural perhaps that Martha should pass on to the subject of that tragedy at Beechfield--the murder of Mr. Sydney Vane and the fate of the murderer." Sister Louisa paused for a moment--it seemed to her that the young man's dark handsome face had turned exceedingly pale. He was leaning against the wall, close to the window; he moved aside a little, as he did not wish her to see his face, and begged her to proceed with her story. She went on. "Martha's tale at this point becomes confused; either she is not sure of what she said or is reluctant to repeat it. Some slur, some imputation was no doubt thrown upon the name of Janie's father; and I believe that she thought that Martha knew her story and was insulting her. At any rate, the whole establishment was roused by the sound of screams proceeding from the room. We rushed thither, and found Martha crouching in a corner, shrieking hysterically, and declaring that Miss Wood was going to murder her; while Janie--poor Janie----" "I can imagine it," said Hubert, in a low tone; while Sister Louisa paused for breath--and perhaps to recover the calmness that she had lost. "Our poor Janie," proceeded the kind-hearted woman, "was like one who had gone mad. She was white as death, her eyes were flaming, her hands clenched; but all that she seemed able to say were the words, 'My father was innocent--innocent--innocent!' I should think that she repeated the words a hundred times. Greatly to our sorrow, Mr. Lepel, the whole story then came out. We could not silence either Martha or poor Janie--who, I really think, did not know what she was saying. In spite of our efforts to keep the matter quiet, in a very short time the whole house--Sisters, boarders, servants--all knew Jane Wood's sad history." She noted the rigid lines about Mr. Lepel's mouth as he stepped forward from the window and spoke in a low stern tone.