"And it went on ever so long, my lady," continued Jane, whose hesitation was turned now in her excitement to volubility; "and then, as I stood there at the window listening, she jumped out, and I drew my head in; but I peeped out once more and she--" "She?" gasped Lady Lisle, again. "Oh, yes, my lady, it was a she, of course, for I just caught sight of her face as she turned to hold the gate back when she went through on her bicycle. It was a girl in national costume"--Jane meant rational--"and she was very little and very pretty and one side of her hair had come half down." "Oh!" groaned Lady Lisle, closing her eyes and reeling towards the nearest chair; but she would not have reached it if the girl with clever alertness had not caught her round the waist and saved her from a fall. "Oh, don't--don't faint, my lady!--Pray--pray hold up!" "I shall be better directly, Jane," said the poor woman, hoarsely. "Let me sit still a few moments. Ha!" she sighed. "I am coming round. That giddiness is passing away." "Let me fetch you your salts, my lady." "No, Jane; I shall not need them. There, I am growing strong again. Yes, I can go on now." "Go on, my lady?" "Yes, girl. Go into the hall and ring the coachman's bell." "Yes, my lady; but oh! please forgive me--what are you going to do?" "To do, Jane?" "Yes, my lady. Don't do anything rash." "Oh, no; I shall do nothing rash, Jane," said the lady, smiling sadly. "I mean, don't you go and run away to your father, because perhaps it ain't so bad as we think." "Not so bad as we think, Jane?" said Lady Lisle, drearily. "No, my lady. You see, it might all be a mistake." "Yes, Jane," said her mistress, looking desolately in the girl's eyes, while a piteous smile came upon her lips; "as you say, it might all be a mistake. But go now, and do as I bid you." "Ye-e-es, my lady." "Ring, and when the coachman comes tell him to bring the carriage round as quickly as he can." "But, oh, my lady," sobbed Jane, and she caught and kissed her mistress's hands one after the other, "don't, pray don't! You are going to run away and leave him, and my mother said a lady ought never to do that unless he's been very, very bad." "I am not going away from my home, Jane," said Lady Lisle, growing firmer now. "Tell Thomas I want him to drive me over to Tilborough at once." "To the races, my lady?" "No," was the reply, firmly given; and then, as the girl glided out of the door, rubbing her eyes the while, the stricken woman repeated the word aloud: "No," and added thoughtfully: "I have been deceived about Lady Tilborough. Now to trace out my husband and that other wretch!" CHAPTER ELEVEN. BUSY TIMES AT TILBOROUGH.