"Ah, I heard all. How sad it must have been for you and Mr. North! John and Frank wrote me word that they followed him to the grave." "Very sad for him as well as for us," assented Richard. "But he is better off." "Who sent that wicked letter?" Richard North dropped his glance on his plate as he answered, apparently intent on what was there. Miss Dallory's keen eyes had been on his: and she used to read a great deal that lay within them. "There has been no discovery at all." "It was thought to be Mr. Timothy Wilks, I believe." "It was certainly not he," said Richard, rather hastily. "No! He had at least something to do with the mischief, if he did not write the letter." "Yes. But without intending evil. The next to leave the home here may be myself," he added. "_You!_" "Of course you have heard that our works are at a standstill? The men have struck." "That's old news: I heard it in Switzerland." "If we are not able to reopen them--and I begin to think we shall not be--I must go out into the world and seek employment elsewhere." "Nonsense!" "If you reflect for a moment, you will see that it is all sober earnest, Miss Dallory. When a man does not possess the means of living, he must work for one." She said no more then. And when she spoke again the subject was changed. "Is Bessy's marriage a happy one?" "Very--as it seems to me. The worst is, Rane gets on as badly as ever in his profession." "But why does he?" "I know not. Except that madam undoubtedly works--always works--to keep him down." "How wrong it is! He shall come and attend me. I will get up some headaches on purpose." Richard laughed. "We have had changes also, since you and I met," resumed Miss Dallory. "But not sad ones. I have become my own mistress in the world; am independent of every one. And Frank has taken up his abode at Ham Court for a permanency." "I hope you intend to make a good use of your independence," said Richard, gravely. "Of course. And I shall _be_ independent; you may rely on that." "We heard it rumoured some time ago that you were likely to lose your independence, Miss Dallory." "I! In what way?" "By getting married." Their eyes met for a moment, and then dropped. Miss Dallory laughed lightly. "Did the news penetrate as far as this? Well, it never was 'likely,' Mr. Richard North. A--gentleman asked me; but I had reason to suppose that he wanted my money more than he did myself, and so--nothing came of it." "Who was he?" "It would not be fair to tell you." "Thank you for correcting me," spoke Richard, in his earnest way. "I ought to feel shame for asking. I beg your pardon; and his." Happening to glance at the young lady, he saw that her face had turned crimson. A rare thing for Miss Dallory. She was too self-possessed to display emotion on light occasions. "Have you seen Ham Court lately?" she resumed, looking up; the blushes making her very pretty.