After this breaking out of the sun in the dear home in Camden Town, with respect to the money trouble, Aunt Leth's heart, as has been stated, fainted within her when Mr. Beeminster, introducing himself, said that he had called upon an inquiry of a serious nature. She mustered courage to say: "Is it anything about a debt? Is it anything about my husband?" Mr. Beeminster stared at her, and answered: "No, not that I am aware of. The inquiry upon which I am engaged relates to Miss Farebrother--your niece--and her father." A sigh of relief escaped Aunt Leth's bosom, and Mr. Beeminster stared the harder at her. "Have you heard anything?" he asked. "Do you know what has occurred?" "I do not understand you," she replied. "Miss Farebrother has resided with you for--how long?" "I cannot exactly say. For some time; since she left her father's house and came to us. But why do you question me?" "You are not compelled to answer. It may be that you have something to conceal." "I have nothing to conceal," said Aunt Leth indignantly. "Or that, Miss Farebrother having got herself into trouble, it is your wish to screen her." "My niece has not got herself into trouble," said Aunt Leth, feeling herself in a certain sense helpless in the hands of this man. "She is not capable of doing anything wrong. I will answer any reasonable questions you may put to me." "It may be as well. Otherwise you might be suspected of a guilty knowledge. Miss Farebrother left her father's house and came to reside with you?" "Yes; she has been in the habit of coming and stopping with us, from time to time, since she was a child." "But never for so long a time as this?" "That is true. We have a deep love for her. Our home is hers." "She ought to be grateful for it." "She is." "Her friends will best serve her by being open and frank." "But what has our dear child done?" asked Aunt Leth, in an imploring tone. "What has she done?" "You will hear presently, if you have a little patience. On this last occasion of her coming to you did she do so with her father's consent?" "It is a family secret," replied Aunt Leth despairingly. "It will tell against her if you refuse to answer. I am here in the cause of justice." "Of justice?" "Yes, of justice. You refuse, then, to say whether she left her home in Parksides with her father's consent?" "I do not refuse. Her father was not kind to her; he turned her from his house." "Then when she came here they were not upon friendly terms. It is the construction which every person would place upon it. Have you any objection to say why he turned her from his house?" "He wished to force her into a hateful marriage; she would not consent." "Were you and her father upon friendly terms?" "We were not." "You harboured her, then, against his wish?" "She had no other shelter. We have always regarded her as a child of our own. Her mother was my sister."