"Oh, yes! I finished it last night. I meant to return it to-day," said Cecily. "Wait a moment and I'll get it from my room. You must be anxious to finish it yourself, I know." And she hurried indoors, unconscious of the unutterable relief with which they watched her go. When she was out of sight, Marcia turned to Miss Benedict. "Please pardon me for asking a personal question," she began hurriedly, "but it is only because we think it is something that concerns Cecily. Did you ever have, in England or anywhere, any relatives or--or even friends by the name of Carringford?" Miss Benedict was bonneted and veiled as usual, so they could not see her face. And they would have given much to have been able to read her expression when she heard this question. But she answered, very promptly and positively: "No, I never knew of any one at all by that name. Why do you ask?" They could hear Cecily's footsteps returning down the stairs. "Only because we have discovered something in connection with people of that name, that seems to concern Cecily," Marcia explained hastily. "Sometime we will tell you all about it. We thought perhaps you'd know them. Please--please don't tell Cecily we've spoken about it--just yet." Miss Benedict had only time to signify that she would follow their request, when Cecily appeared in the doorway and the interview was over. As they walked home later they both admitted to a feeling of intense relief that Miss Benedict, at least, knew nothing about any Carringfords. "Of course, her not knowing them doesn't _prove_ anything," declared Janet. "But one thing is certain. If she _had_ known them, it would have been positive that all this horrid story is connected with Cecily. But as she doesn't, it gives one more chance that it has nothing to do with her." As they entered the hall of the apartment, the captain called out to them from the living-room: "Hurry in, girls! There's another letter from the major waiting for you!" CHAPTER XIX THE UNEXPECTED The major's letter did nothing, however, to lighten the gloom. On the contrary, it only increased it tenfold. The main substance of it was in this paragraph: