"I'd rather leave it in your hands, sir," said Mary Trent. "Because there's one thing more I've got to mention before I go. And Miss Lesley may not thank me for mentioning it, although I do it to save her--poor lamb--and to save you too, sir, from a great trouble and sorrow and disgrace that hangs over you all just now." Caspar flushed. "Disgrace?" he said, almost angrily. And Mrs. Trent looked at him full in the face and nodded gravely, as she answered-- "Yes, sir, disgrace." CHAPTER XXXI. "A FAIRLY GOOD REASON." Caspar Brooke's attitude stiffened. His features and limbs became suddenly rigid. "I must confess, Mrs. Trent," he said, "that I am unable to conceive the possibility of _disgrace_ hanging over me or mine." "That is because you are a man, and therefore blind to what goes on around you," said Mary Trent, with sudden bitterness; "and I am a woman, and can use my eyes and ears. There, I'd better tell you my tale at once, and you can make what you like of it. Miss Lesley----" "If you have anything to say about Miss Lesley, it had better be said in her hearing," returned Caspar, in hot displeasure. He rose and laid his hand upon the bell. "I want no tales about her behind her back." "For mercy's sake, sir, stop," said the woman, eagerly. "It is only to spare her that I ask it! It isn't that she is to blame--no, no, I don't mean that; but she is in more danger than she knows." Caspar's hand fell from the bell rope. His face had turned a trifle pale, and his brows looked very stern. "Tell me exactly what you mean. I do not wish to listen to anything that Miss Lesley has not intended me to hear. I have perfect faith in her." "Faith in her! She's one of the sweetest and truest-hearted ladies I ever came across," said Mary Trent, indignantly; "but she may be on the brink of a precipice without knowing it. Sir, what I mean is this. Mr. Oliver Trent is in love with Miss Lesley, and is doing his best to get her to run off with him. Yes, I know what you want to say--that she would never do such a thing--but one cannot always say what a girl will do under pressure; and, believe me or not as you please, Oliver Trent is ready to throw over Miss Kenyon at any moment for the sake of your daughter, Mr. Brooke." "Do you know what you are saying?" thundered Caspar, now white to the lips. "Do you know what an aspersion you are casting on my daughter's character? Are you aware that Miss Kenyon's marriage with Mr. Trent is to take place to-morrow morning? Your remarks are perfectly unjustifiable--unless you are in ignorance of the facts of the case."