“So I see,” in a milder key. “I’ll get you change, and, though I says it as shouldn’t, it’s not everybody, you know yourself, who would have----” “Yes, quite true, I know all that already, thank you, Mrs. Kane. Never mind the change just now, it can go towards the milk bill. What I wanted to speak to you about is to tell you a family secret--which concerns me.” “A family secret! Laws, Mrs. Wynne!” suddenly seating herself with a plunge, and looking at her lodger with a countenance of gratified anticipation, “whatever can it be?” “Promise, on your solemn word of honour, not to tell any one.” “Oh, I’m as safe as a church; no one will get anything out of me”--mentally resolving to tell her niece and husband without any churlish delay--“unless it’s something not on the square.” “It is quite on the square; you need not fear. Once I was a Miss West.” “So you told me,” nodding her head. “I was at school near Riverside for a good many years. My father is an Australian merchant--very rich.” “Oh, indeed!” in a comfortable tone. “But for two years he had not been heard of, we thought that he was dead, and I became a teacher at school. Mr. Wynne saw me there, and paid me attention, which displeased Mrs. Harper very much. I was sent away, and we were married. We have been here ever since.” “So you have,” agreed Mrs. Kane, as much as to say, “And it’s highly to your credit!” “Well, now my father has written at last; he is coming home, immensely rich. He has not heard of my marriage.” “Laws, you don’t say so!” in a tone of admiration and astonishment. “No one has heard of it, you see. I had no friends. And if my father knew that I had married a poor man, he would be dreadfully angry--at least at first. I went down to Mrs. Harper’s; she showed me his letter. She thinks I am not married, for,” holding up her bare left hand, “I pawned my rings to pay my railway fare.” “Oh, my goodness! Did you really, now?” “And she took it for granted that I was still Miss West. I confessed nothing. I told her I had lived here for fourteen months, that I worked at law stationery, and was very poor, and she was apparently satisfied; but, all the same, I firmly believe she will write and ask you all about me. Neither she nor my father must know of my marriage--_yet_. And now, are you quite prepared? I am Miss West, you know, who has lived with you since last January year. You understand, Mrs. Kane?” “Oh yes!” with an expressive wink. “A nice, quiet, respectable young lady--never going nowhere, keeping no company, and I only wishes I had a dozen like her. I’ll give it her all pat, you be quite certain,” said her landlady, rubbing her bare fat arms with the liveliest delight at her own _rôle_ in the piece. “But how about Mr. Wynne and the baby?” she asked slyly.