“It is indeed a ‘strange eventful history’ that I have to narrate to you,” resumed John Clare. “Would you rather that I put off telling it you till to-morrow, or——” “Certainly not. There’s no time like the time present. Now that you have told me so much you must tell me all. I shall not sleep a wink to-night unless you do.” Thus adjured, John Clare began the narrative with which the reader is acquainted. Lady Pell and Ethel did not reach the Chase till after luncheon next day. Over breakfast father and son agreed that it would be best to entrust her ladyship with the task of breaking to Ethel the news of her surprising change of fortune, whom they would see later on. “It seems to me,” said Sir Gilbert, “that we owe this discovery, in the first place, entirely to the efforts of young Lisle.” “That is undoubtedly so,” replied John. “Had he not first moved in the affair, the chances are, nay, it is almost a certainty, that the truth would never have been brought to light.” “We owe him an immense debt of gratitude. In what way can we best contrive to repay at least a part of it?” “As I understand the affair, he and Ethel are engaged to each other.” “True. For the moment the fact had escaped my memory. And yet it was only the other day that I congratulated the pair of them.” The two looked at each other for a few moments in silence. “But the heiress of the House of Clare! One has a right to expect that she should make a very different match.” It was Sir Gilbert who spoke. “Very true. Still, it may be as well to bear in mind that but for Everard Lisle, the House of Clare would never have known that it had an heiress.” “Yes, yes; of course one can’t forget that. As I remarked before, the debt is an immense one. But as regards this engagement, what do you advise?” “Simply that for the present you and I do nothing at all in the affair, but wait and see how matters work themselves out between the young people.” “Um—um. One can pretty well guess the result of that.” “If Lisle is the man I take him to be, when he finds Ethel acknowledged as your granddaughter, one of his first acts will be to offer to release her from her engagement.” “Do you think so? Indeed, I shouldn’t wonder if you are right. Lisle’s a gentleman through and through, or else I was never more mistaken in my life. But in that case, what about the girl?” John Clare smiled. “Being of the sex she is, who can foretell what she may choose to do, or not to do? But in any case, it appears to me that you and I must abide by the result, whatever it may be.” “I agree to that. Yes, yes, whatever the dear girl may choose to do shall be fully endorsed by us.” It seemed to John Clare, although he did not say so, that what Ethel would choose to do in such a contingency admitted of very little doubt. He felt intensely grateful to Everard Lisle, and he had already made up his mind that it should be owing to no fault of his if the young folk were not made happy.