‘Well, since he came grandfather’s been out a good deal, and I fancy they’ve got important business together.’ The colour faded from Ruth’s cheeks. It was as she feared, then. Marston must be mixed up with very bad company indeed if he and old Heckett had business together. She questioned Gertie eagerly, and ascertained that Marston had been once or twice, and that he always talked in a low tone with her grandfather. She had heard something once about some gold and thousands of pounds, so she supposed it was very important business. Gertie’s head was full of other things, however, besides Marston, and she soon left him to chatter about Lion, and the parrot, and the animals, and her lessons, and all the old topics in which Ruth had once taken so much interest. Ruth let her prattle on, but her thoughts were far away. She seemed as though she were thinking out some plan of action. Suddenly she stopped Gertie in the middle of a long aneedote about Lion and a cat, and said in a serious voice,— ‘Gertie, will you do me a very great service?’ ‘Oh, yes, Miss Adrian, anything.’ ‘Listen, then. If ever this gentleman who comes here to see your grandfather should, to your knowledge, be in any danger or ill, or if you should hear anything about him that makes you think he wants a friend, will you let me know?’ Gertie said certainly she would. ‘Don’t tell any one I have asked you this, Gertie.’ ‘Oh, no! no one shall know it except Lion, and he’s heard what you’ve said, of course.’ ‘Oh, I don’t mind Lion; he’s in all our little secrets,’ said Miss Adrian smiling; ‘but I hope Polly will be discreet.’ Gertie laughed at the idea of Polly revealing a secret; and Polly, who had heard its name mentioned, whistled and blessed their eyes for a good five minutes. Miss Adrian, to satisfy her conscience, gave Gertie a short lesson; but she could not deceive herself. She knew that her visit was more on Marston’s account than on Gertie’s. When she rose to go, Gertie hoped she would come again soon, and she promised that she would. ‘Perhaps I shall have something to tell you about _him_, you know,’ said Gertie, archly. Miss Adrian flushed scarlet. Was it possible she had betrayed herself even to this child? She stooped down and patted Lion’s head, and then kissed Gertie affectionately. ‘Good-bye, Gertie,’ she said; ‘and remember to let me know if anything happens.’ She got halfway down the stairs, and then the thought struck her, how would Gertie communicate with her. The child did not know where she lived. She turned back again and wrote her address on a little piece of paper, which she gave to the child, and bade her take care of it and not let any one see it. Gertie folded the piece of paper, and put it in her bosom.