How had he got out of his room? That he had not come out of its door, I felt sure; for I had been so silent that I must have heard it, had it opened; besides, that door of his would only open with a jerk and a creaking noise. If there was another door to his apartment, it must lead into the wing inhabited by Mrs. Chandos. Why had he been dodging about in that strange way in the grounds? and put on a cloak and broad hat to do it in, just as if he wished to disguise himself? And what could he want in the apartments of Lady Chandos in the middle of the night? Truly there _was_ mystery at Chandos. But I could not solve it, and went to bed. "Good morning, Miss Hereford." The salutation came from Mr. Chandos, who was following me into the breakfast-room, having that instant quitted his own. I was going quickly; so was he; for we were late, and Lady Chandos liked punctuality. But she was not in the oak-parlour. "That's right," he cried, when he saw the room empty. "I hope my mother has overslept herself too, and had as good a night as I have." "Have you had a good night, sir?" came the involuntary question. "Too good: a man does not want eight or nine hours' sleep. I dropped asleep the minute I got into bed last night; did not even hear my clock strike eleven, though it only wanted a few minutes to it; and I never woke until twenty minutes to eight this morning. I was very tired last night." Was Mr. Chandos mystifying me? Somehow it caused me vexation. My eyes had a resentful expression as I fixed them on his; which, of course, they had no right in the world to have. "You did not go to sleep at eleven o'clock, sir." "Indeed I did, Miss Hereford." "Then you must have got up again, sir." "Nothing of the sort! Why do you say that? I never woke until this morning." Standing there and deliberately saying this to my face, with every appearance of truth, could only be done to mislead—to deceive me. I had far rather he had struck me a blow; though _why_, I did not stay to ask myself. "Mr. Chandos, I saw you in the grounds in the middle of the night!" "Saw me in the grounds in the middle of the night!" he echoed. "You were dreaming, Miss Hereford." "No, sir; I was wide awake. It must have been getting on for one o'clock. You had on a cloak and a low broad-brimmed hat, and were dodging in and out of the trees." "What trees?" "Those opposite." "Wearing a cloak and broad hat, and dodging in and out of the opposite trees! Well, that is good, Miss Hereford!" His face wore an amused expression: his dark eyes—and they were looking dark as purple in the morning light—were dancing with mirth. I turned cross. Some foolish thought, that Mr. Chandos would make a confidant of me in the morning, had run into my mind in the night. "I don't possess a cloak, young lady."