But in moments of supreme stress and difficulty, Miss Pinckney was a believer in prayer. Her prayer now was speechless, one might compare it to a mental wrestle with the abominable situation before God. When she rose from her knees everything was clear to her. Two things were evident. Phyl must be got back at any cost, and scandal must be choked, even if it had to be choked with solid lies. To save Phyl's reputation, Miss Pinckney would have perjured herself twice over. Miss Pinckney had many faults and limitations, but she had the grand common sense of a clean heart and a clear mind. She could tell a lie with a good conscience in a good cause, but to hide even a small fault of her own, the threat of death on the scaffold would not have made her tell a lie. She went to the writing table now and taking a sheet of paper, wrote: _Dear Richard,_ Seth Grangerson is bad again, and I am going over there now with Phyl. We mayn't be back to-night. I am taking the automobile. We will be back to-morrow most likely. Your affectionate Aunt, Maria Pinckney. She read the note over. If all went well then everything would be well. If the worst occurred then she could explain everything to Richard. It was a desperate gamble; well she knew how the dice were loaded against her, but the game had to be played out to the very last moment. Already she had stopped the mouth of slander by her prompt action with Colonel Grangerson's coloured man, but she well knew how coloured servants talk; Grangerson's man was safe enough, he was frightened and he would have to get back to Grangerville. Rachel was absolutely safe, Dinah alone was doubtful. She called Rachel in, gave her the note for Richard and told her to keep a close eye on Dinah. "Don't let her get talking to any one," said Miss Pinckney, "and when Mr. Richard comes in give him that note yourself. If he asks about Miss Phyl, say she came back and went with me. You understand, Rachel, Miss Phyl has done a foolish thing, but there's no harm in it, only what fools will make of it if they get chattering. No one must know, not even Mr. Richard." "I'll see to that, Miss Pinckney, an' if I catch Dinah openin' her mouth to say more'n 'potatoes' I'll dress her down so's she won't know which end of her's which." Miss Pinckney went upstairs, dressed hurriedly, packed a few things in a bag and the automobile being now at the door, started. It was after one o'clock when she reached Grangersons. Just as on the day when she had arrived with Phyl, Colonel Grangerson, hearing the noise of the car, came out to inspect. He came down the steps, hat in hand, saw the occupant, started back, and then advanced to open the door. "Why, God bless my soul, it's you," cried the Colonel. "What has happened?" Miss Pinckney without a word got out and went up the steps with him. In the hall she turned to him.