"The gen'l'man say he be back this evenin'," the elevator boy told them. "Humph!" Miss Ri looked at Linda. "Were we going anywhere to-night?" "No. You remember that we said we would be going all day and that we'd better stay in and rest." "Then rest shall I, and you can see the young man. Now, no protests; I am not going down one step. I can trust you to go unchaperoned this once, I should think. I don't feel like talking to him. I have been talking all day." Therefore Linda went down alone when the young man was announced, to find him sitting in a little alcove, waiting for her. He was in correct evening dress and looked well. Linda had never seen him so carefully attired and could but acknowledge that there was a certain elegance in the tall, dignified figure, and that he looked quite as distinguished as any man she had met. She, herself, was all in white, Miss Ri having persuaded her that such a dress was as appropriate as her frocks of black. She looked very charming, thought the young man, who rose to meet her, and his manner was slightly more genial than usual. "It seems a very long time since I saw you, Miss Linda," he said. "Only a week," returned Linda, seating herself on a low divan, her skirts making soft billows around her. "You have enjoyed yourself and the time has passed very quickly, I presume." "Very quickly. We have had a delightful week. And you?" "There have been festivities in Sandbridge from which you were missed." "And to which, probably, I should not have gone. No piece of news of any importance?" "One which will interest you and which I came to tell you of." He hesitated so long that Linda, to help him out, began, "And the news is--" "About my claim." He hesitated, as if finding it very hard to go on. "Oh, I think I can anticipate what you have to say," rejoined Linda easily. "My sister-in-law has told me that it is Talbot's Angles to which your papers refer. Is that true?" "It is." "And have you established your facts?" Linda asked the question steadily. "Not perfectly; although the past week has given us some extra proof in the papers found at the house itself. Among them we found some receipts given by Cyrus Talbot to the tenant for rent. They read: 'Received from John Briggs one quarter's rent for Talbot's Angles,' so much, and are signed by Cyrus Talbot." "By 'us' you mean Mr. Matthews and yourself?" "Yes, it is through his efforts that we are able to get so much evidence as we have." "I see." There was silence for a moment. Linda sat perfectly still and, except that she nervously played with a ring on her finger, appeared unmoved. Mr. Jeffreys watched her for a moment, then he leaned forward. "Miss Linda," he began, "I know how you must feel, and it pains me beyond expression to bring you news that must be disappointing to you, but--" he halted in his precise speech, "but you need not lose your old home, if you will take the claimant with it." Linda lifted startled eyes.