"Well, you see, miss, he will not relish your rebuffing him for his impertinence; and he is likely to prove a dangerous enemy." "Pshaw! He can do me no harm." "I am not so sure of that, miss. He knows a good deal about Mr. Edermont's past life." Dora turned round and looked sharply at the comely, withered face. "Is there anything in the past life of Mr. Edermont likely to be harmful to me?" "Yes," said Mrs. Tice deliberately, "there is." "And do you know what it is?" "Yes, miss; I know what it is, and so does Mr. Allen. It was a knowledge of that past which sent him up to London. Since he returned we have talked over the matter, and we have both concluded that it is best to hold our tongues. But if Mr. Joad knows the secret, and you rebuff him, he may not be wise enough to keep silent." "I am glad to hear you say so!" cried Dora with animation. "Since I can learn the secret from no one else, I'll see if a rebuff cannot loosen Mr. Joad's tongue." "If you are wise, you will let well alone," warned Mrs. Tice, feeling that she had said too much. Dora crossed the room, and stood with her hands behind her back, looking indignantly at the old woman. "Upon my word, it is a shame!" she said in a low voice. "I am apparently surrounded by pitfalls on all sides, yet no one will tell me how to avoid them." "If you remain quiet, you won't fall into them," replied Mrs. Tice with a nod. "Quiet!" cried Dora, frowning. "Good heavens! how can I remain quiet when I see my life falling into ruins? No, no, no!" She stamped her foot defiantly. "I must act, I must inquire, I must know what all these mysteries mean!" "You will never arrive at that knowledge, Miss Carew." "I'm not so sure of that, Mrs. Tice. Remember your hint about that Joad creature. I'll wring it out of him, if I can't out of anyone else. Mrs. Tice"--Dora flung herself on her knees before the housekeeper--"did you know Mr. Edermont before he came to the Red House?" "Yes, Miss Carew, I can admit that much: I knew Mr. Edermont." "Was that when you were Allen's nurse?" "Yes, Miss Carew." "In the service of Allen's parents?" "I was in the service of Dr. and Mrs. Scott," replied Mrs. Tice composedly. "Pray don't ask me any more questions, Miss Carew, for I cannot answer them." "You will not, you mean," said Dora, rising. "Never mind, I have found out something from the little you have told me." Mrs. Tice looked up quickly. "Impossible," she said anxiously. "I have revealed nothing." "Oh, I can put two and two together, Mrs. Tice," said Dora quietly. "Allen told me that his parents lived in Christchurch, Hants--that his father and mother are buried there. Now, if you knew Mr. Edermont while you were nursing Allen, Mr. Edermont must have lived, or have been on a visit, at Christchurch. Consequently, if I go down to Christchurch I shall learn something of Mr. Edermont's past life." Mrs. Tice fell into the skilfully-laid trap.