"More," said Mrs Hampton. "You would not find a wife so anxious if a husband behaved like that." "No, my dear, of course not. There, I'll go up and dress. I say, you will not wait dinner for him, as you would breakfast?" said the old lawyer, who looked upon his dinner as the most important event of the twenty-four hours. "Indeed, if I have any influence with Gertrude we shall not," said Mrs Hampton sternly. "I have hardly had a morsel to-day." "Where's Gertrude?" "Gone up to her room to dress," said Mrs Hampton; and as soon as they were in their own apartment, she related the whole of the day's discoveries, and her theory about George Harrington having gone off to join Saul. "Humph! hardly likely," said the old man thoughtfully. "So you waited all that time, and then found out that he had not been to bed?" "Yes." "How does Gertrude take it?" "Like a lamb apparently. Ready to defend him quite indignantly if I say a word." "Then don't say one. I'm very glad he has gone out." "Glad?" "Yes. The more he shows the cloven hoof the better." "My dear?" "For Gertrude. She may have her eyes so opened that she will refuse to marry him, throw him over completely, and then, my dear, we shall once more get home to peace and quietness." "If it would turn out like that," said Mrs Hampton thoughtfully, "I would not mind. But come now, speak out." No answer. "What are you thinking about, Hampton?" "I was thinking, my dear, that this accounts for the way the money goes. I'm glad I've got a clue to that, not that it matters to us." "What do you think it is--gambling?" "May be." "Then you don't think so, Hampton? Now speak out." "No, my dear, you don't need telling. Not surprising after the life he has led in the West." "Yes, sir, it is very surprising, when he is engaged to the sweetest girl in the world." "Yes. Did the dog howl much?" "Not a great deal, but very strangely; and don't turn from one subject to another so abruptly." "Enough to make him, with his head cut open, poor brute!" Ten minutes after they descended to the drawing-room, where, in spite of her cheerful looks and animated manner of addressing the old lawyer, it was plain to see that Gertrude had been crying, and the tears rose to her eyes again as she noted the tenderly sympathetic manner towards her of her two friends. "I have ordered the dinner to be taken in at the usual time," she said eagerly. "Oh, no, my dear, not for us," said Mrs Hampton after a desperate effort to master herself. "Yes, I am sure that George--who, I feel sure, has gone to join Saul Harrington--would wish us to go on as usual. Yes, Denton? Dinner?" "No, miss; I only came to say that there is no wine up." "No wine, Denton?" "No, miss; but if you get out the keys I could go down and fetch it from the cellar." "Yes, yes; of course," said Gertrude. "I'll go with you." "No, no, my dear," cried Mrs Hampton; "we take so little, and I am sure Mr Hampton will not mind to-day."