'If she has friends!' I exclaimed, putting a brave face on the disclosure, although I was inexpressibly hurt at the knowledge that Jessie was keeping a secret from me. 'Do you suspect she has?' 'She must have, Chris.' I looked at my mother; there was more in her tone than her words implied. 'Go on, mother. You have something more to tell me.' 'It is best you should know, my darling,' said my mother in a tone of inexpressible tenderness, encircling my waist with her arm; it is best you should know, for you are in Jessie's confidence, and she will listen to you when she would not heed me. Yesterday afternoon, as I was walking home--I had been out on an errand for your uncle--a cab passed me, with two persons in it. One was a gentleman, the other was Jessie. Nay, my dear, don't shrink. There is no harm in that; the harm is in keeping it from us, her dearest friends, and in making a secret of it.' I controlled my agitation, foolishly believing that I could deceive this fondest of mothers. 'Did the cab come to our door?' I asked. 'No, my dear; it did not come down the street. It stopped a few yards in front of me, and the gentleman assisted Jessie out----' 'Don't hide anything from me, mother; of course I shall speak to Jessie about it. Tell me exactly what you saw and heard.' 'I heard nothing; I shrank away, so that Jessie should, not see me. The gentleman said something to her, but she shook her head, and then he bade her good-bye and drove away. That is all.' It was enough to make me most unhappy, but still I strove to conceal my feelings. I endeavoured to make light of the circumstance, and I asked my mother in a careless tone whether she was sure it _was_ a gentleman who accompanied Jessie. She said she was sure of it. 'What was he like?' 'Tall and dark, and very well dressed.' 'Young?' I asked. 'No,' she answered, and I could not help feeling relieved at the information; nearer fifty than forty, I should say.' I could not at the moment call to mind any person whom the description fitted, and I promised my mother that I would speak to Jessie about it. 'Ask her to confide in me, my dear,' my mother said. 'I will, mother.'