I did n't even let myself think of it," replied the daughter, "and, indeed, 't was so much easier than the thought of your further increasing your debt to Lord Clowes that 't was nothing." Then, after a slight pause, she asked: "Dadda, who is the Mrs. Loring I found at Sir William's?" "Humph!" grunted the squire, with obvious annoyance. "'T is the wife of Joshua Loring, commissary of prisoners." "Has she been long married to him?" asked Janice. "That I know not; and the less ye concern yourself, Jan, with her, the better." Despite this recommendation, Janice once again repeated her question, this time making it to Andre at the Assembly that evening. "I know not," the captain told her, pursing up his lips and raising his eyebrows. Then he called to his opposite in the quadrille: "Cathcart, can you tell me how long Mrs. Loring has rejoiced in that title of honour?" The earl laughed as if Andre had said something witty, and made reply: "Since ever I can remember, and that is a full five years." When later the dancers adjourned to the supper-room, Lord Cathcart tossed a billet across the table to Andre, and he in turn passed it to Mobray, who was squiring Janice. The baronet held it so that she could see the message as well, and inscribed on the paper were the lines:-- "Your question don't think me a moment ignoring: 'How long has she honoured the surname of Loring?' Wiseacre, first tell, how a man without honour Could ever confer that fair jewel upon her?" Sir Frederick, before handing it back, took Janice's pencil from her dancing-card, and scribbled on the back of the quip:-- "The answer is plain, for by means of her face, The lady secured him an honourable place. In return for the favour, by clergy and vow, She made sure of her honour, but who knows when or Howe?" And from that interchange of epigrams Janice asked no further questions relative to Mrs. Loring, unless it might be of herself. XLIII A CHOICE OF EVILS At this ball Janice was gladdened by word from Andre that he had effected the sale of the miniature, though he maintained absolute silence as to who the purchaser was, nor did she choose to inquire. The next morning brought a packet from him containing a rouleau of guineas, and so soon as they were counted, the girl hurried to the room on the ground floor which the commissary had taken as a half office, and, after an apology for the unannounced intrusion, said,-- "You have been good enough, Lord Clowes, to favour us with sundry loans, for which we can never be grateful enough, but 't is now in our power to repay them." "Pay me!" cried the baron, incredulously. "Yes," replied Janice, laying down the pile of gold on the desk. "Wilt tell me the exact amount?" The guineas were too indisputable for Clowes to question the girl's ability to carry out her intention, but he demanded, "How came you by such a sum of gold?"