"It may be gossip, I trust it may be untrue; but why is Margaret, so to speak, shut up? She cannot go out even for a walk beyond the grounds; Jean says she has not been to see Grace for ever so long, and there must be some reason for his never answering any letter." "I never heard this before. What do you mean about Margaret? I think you are speaking great nonsense." "Jean says that the poor thing never gets out. At first she went out and he went with her--followed her like a shadow--now he does not go himself, and she is kept a perfect prisoner. No one is allowed to go near the house. I assure you, brother, I have been longing for you to be well to speak about it." "The man must be mad," exclaimed Mr. Sandford, and then he noticed his sister's face. "You have heard something, you have something more to say?" and his own face flushed. "Brother, do not excite yourself. You know the doctor is afraid of your being ill if you do." "Well, then, don't make mysteries," he said very angrily, and with much of his old violence. "I am sure," said the poor woman, hurt at such an accusation, "I do not wish to make mysteries, but Mrs. Wymans told me that she had heard he drank. Now, I am not quite sure if she put it quite that way or if she asked me if he drank." "Not a bit of it. If he does, it is something quite new. He was a very abstemious man. You might recollect his headaches, and saying wine increased those headaches." "So I do," exclaimed Mrs. Dorriman, joyfully; "how tiresome it is that I forgot this when that woman was here. She spoke so meaningly," and Mrs. Dorriman as usual considered herself somehow altogether to blame. Mr. Sandford said no more, but he lay back, thinking. He blamed himself, justly, for having been the person to bring this man to the house for his own end--and now.... He was free of further blame; he had heard rumours in connection with Mr. Drayton's family that had greatly disturbed him, and _then_ he had done his best to prevent his marrying Margaret; his conscience had plenty to bear but not this--only he might have spoken more plainly, he might have told her or his sister something that had come to his knowledge. Then, when too late, he _knew_. He was better, but his strength was not coming back quickly, and business matters, the position he had held, everything connected with the past, began to shrink in importance. But Margaret! Something must be done at once about her; a terrible dread came to him about her. "One thing you must do at once," he said, aloud, following out his own thoughts, "you must write to Jean without delay; enclose her a cheque, and tell her it is important that she should give it, and letters from you, to Margaret, into her own hand. Write to Margaret and tell her she is to let you know the truth, and what her position is--write _at once_," he repeated, as though his sister, who was thoroughly alarmed, needed any second telling.