"Hasten, Cecilia," murmured the rector: "it is later than you imagine." "My God!" whispered the lady: "I hear a step ascending!" The rector listened for a moment, and then said in a faint tone, "Yes: we are lost!" A light flashed on the wall a few steps beneath those on which they were standing: it was too late to retreat; and in another moment Mrs. Kenrick made her appearance on the stairs. "What! Mr. Tracy?" ejaculated the housekeeper, her eyes glancing from the rector in his dressing-gown to the lady in her cloak. Then the good woman stood motionless and silent—her tongue tied, and her feet rooted to the spot, with astonishment. Lady Cecilia drew her veil hastily over her countenance; but not before Mrs. Kenrick had recognised her. A thousand ideas passed rapidly through the rector's brain during the two or three moments that succeeded this encounter. At first he thought of inventing some excuse for his awkward situation;—next he felt inclined to spring upon his old housekeeper and strangle her;—then he conceived the desperate idea of rushing back to his room and blowing his brains out. "Mrs. Kenrick," at length he exclaimed, "I hope you will say nothing of this." The housekeeper made no reply to her master; but, turning a contemptuous glance upon the lady, said, "Madam, allow me to conduct you to the front door." Cecilia followed her mechanically; and Reginald rushed up the stairs to his room, a prey to emotions more readily conceived than described. The housekeeper preceded Lady Cecilia in silence, and opened the front door. "My dear Mrs. Kenrick," said the frail patrician, who had now nearly recovered her presence of mind, "I hope you will take no notice of this unpleasant discovery." "I shall remain silent, madam," answered the housekeeper; "but through no respect for you. I however value the reputation of a master whom I have served for many years, too much to be the means of ruining him." She then closed the door unceremoniously, and, seating herself on one of the mahogany benches in the hall, burst into tears. That good woman loved her master with a maternal affection; and she was shocked at this dread confirmation of the faint suspicions which she had already entertained, and which had so sorely afflicted her.