"Physical culture, eh?" observed Mr. Carless, smiling. "Very well! Now, then, in the end Mr. Ashton came home to England, and of course came to see you, and in due course you left school, and came to his house in Markendale Square, where he got a Mrs. Killenhall to look after you. All that correct? Yes? Well, then, I think, from what Mr. Pawle tells me, Mr. Ashton handed over a lot of money to you, and told you it had been left to you, or left in his charge for you, by your father? That is correct too? Very well. Now, did Mr. Ashton never tell you anything much about your father?" "No, he never did. Beyond telling me that my father was an Englishman who had gone out to Australia and settled there, he never told me anything. But," here Miss Wickham paused and hesitated for a while, "I have an idea," she continued in the end, "that he meant to tell me something--what, I, of course, don't know. He once or twice--hinted that he would tell me something, some day." "You didn't press him?" suggested Mr. Carless. "I don't think I am naturally inquisitive," replied Miss Wickham. "I certainly did not press him. I knew he'd tell me, whatever it was, in his own way." "One or two other questions," said Mr. Carless. "Do you know who your mother was?" "Only that she was some one whom my father met in Australia." "Do you know what her maiden name was?" "No, only her Christian name; that was Catherine. She and my father are buried together." "Ah!" exclaimed Mr. Carless. "That is something else I was going to ask. You know where they are buried?" "Oh, yes! Because, before we sailed, Mrs. Roscombe took me to the churchyard, or cemetery, to see my father's and mother's grave. I remembered that perfectly. Her own husband was buried there too, close by. I remember how we both cried." Mr. Carless suddenly pointed to the ornament which Miss Wickham was wearing. "Will you take that off, and let me look at it?" he asked. "Thank you," he said, as she somewhat surprisedly obeyed. "I believe," he continued, as he quietly passed the ornament to Lord Ellingham, "that Mr. Ashton gave you this and told you it had belonged to your father? Just so! Well," he concluded, handing the ornament back, "I think that's all. Much obliged to you, Miss Wickham. You won't understand all this, but you will, later. Now, one of my clerks will get you a car, and we'll escort you down to it." "No," said Lord Ellingham, promptly jumping to his feet. "Allow me--I'm youngest. If Miss Wickham will let me--" The two young people went out of the room together, and the three men left behind looked at each other. There was a brief and significant silence. "Well, Carless?" said Mr. Pawle at last. "How now?" "'Pon my honour," answered Mr. Carless, "I shouldn't wonder if you're right!" CHAPTER XX SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.