"Did you observe if he returned in the same train with yourself?" "No, mademoiselle." Then, with a meaning little laugh: "Monsieur will not remain long from Oakley." Miss Arthur tried to look unconscious, and succeeded in looking idiotic. "Pardon, mademoiselle, but I can't forget that night. Mademoiselle is surely relieved of one fear." "What is that?" "The fear of being wooed because of her wealth." Miss Arthur started, then said: "There may be something in that, Celine; and it is not impossible that I may inherit more." "Ah?" inquiringly. "Yes. Possibly you have learned from the servants that Mr. Arthur lost a young step-daughter not long ago; just before you came, in fact." "I don't remember. Did she die, mademoiselle?" "Yes. She was a very wild, unruly child, a regular little heathen--oh!" "Pardon, oh, pardon, did it hurt?" removing a long, spiky hair pin, with much apparent solicitude. "A--a little; yes. As I was saying, this ridiculous girl was sent to school and no expense spared to make a lady of her." "Indeed!" "Yes; and then she rewards my brother for all his kindness by running away." "_Merci_, mademoiselle!" suddenly recalling her French. "And then she died among strangers, just as provokingly as she had lived. She must even run away to die, to make it seem as if her home was not a happy one." "What a very wicked young person; how you must have been annoyed." "We were all deeply grieved." "And I don't suppose that dead young woman was even grateful for that." "Oh, there was no gratitude in her." "Of course not! Now, mademoiselle, let me do your eyebrows," turning her about. "But," pursued Miss Arthur, "when she died, my brother acquired unconditional control of a large fortune, and you must see that my brother is getting rather old. Well, in case of his death, a part, at least, of this fortune will become mine." "Yes, madame." "My brother is too much afraid to face the thought of death and make a new will, and papers are in existence that will give me the larger portion of his fortune. Of course, Mrs. Arthur will get her third." Celine was now surprised in earnest. Miss Arthur had spoken the truth. With shrewd foresight, she had made John Arthur sign certain papers two years before, in consideration of sundry loans from her. And of this state of affairs every one, except their two selves and the necessary lawyer, had remained in ignorance. The girl's eyes gleamed. This was still better. It would make her vengeance more complete. And now Miss Arthur was thrown into a state of girlish agitation by the appearance of Susan, who announced that Mr. Percy was in the drawing-room, awaiting the pleasure of his inamorata. She bade Celine make haste with her complexion and, after the lapse of something like half an hour, swept down to welcome her lover, with a great many amber silk flounces following in her wake.