"Oh, my dear!" Mrs. Drass exclaimed in a shocked tone, as though virtuously indignant at the idea of gossiping. "I would not think of troubling about such a trifle. I simply thought your dear sister was ill, seeing she left before Mr. Chaskin's sweet discourse; and I had half a mind to follow with my smelling bottle." "Very kind of you," said Iris, briefly; and then, as she disliked the conversation, held her tongue. Mrs. Drass at once began on a fresh topic. "Did you see that stranger in church?" she asked--"a handsome young lady, most beautifully dressed. I wonder who she can be?" "I did not observe her particularly." "She looked at Mr. Lovel a great deal," continued Mrs. Drass artfully, "and at your sister. I was ill-placed for observation, but I turned and saw their looks." "I don't understand you," said Iris, on her guard at this coupling of Milly's name with that of Lovel. Mrs. Drass became tart at once. "Oh, my love, it is not very difficult to understand," she said stiffly; "in my opinion, your sister exchanged so many glances with Mr. Lovel that the strange lady thought----" "I don't want to know what she thought, Mrs. Drass. You forget that my sister is engaged." "I think it is Milly Lester who forgets that!" cried Mrs. Drass venomously; "it is really disgraceful the way in which she flirts with Mr. Lovel!" "Mrs. Drass!" "Now, don't be cross with me, my dear," wheezed the fat old lady, as they stopped at the gate of Poverty Villa. "I only repeat what all the village talks about. I don't know what Mr. Herne will say to your sister's conduct! Such a good young man as he is!" "Here is Dr. Lester," said Iris, cutting short these remarks; and leaving Mrs. Drass in the company of her stepfather, she retired hastily in search of Milly. To her surprise, the girl was not in the house. Iris searched everywhere, and, alarmed by this unexpected absence, went downstairs with the intention of leaving the house to look for her. Passing by Dr. Lester's room, the door of which was ajar, she heard the oily voice of Mrs. Drass accusing Milly of flirting with Lovel. Although she hated eavesdropping, Iris listened in the interests of her sister. "Indeed, my dear doctor, I should advise you to interfere," Mrs. Drass was saying; "you know how particular Mr. Herne is. If he learnt too much about Milly----" "He shall learn nothing," broke in Dr. Lester's harsh voice, "unless you tell him." "Excuse me, I never speak of my neighbours' business. This has nothing to do with me." "But it has a great deal to do with Miss Clyde." "I don't understand----" began Mrs. Drass, when the doctor cut her short with a short and rude laugh. "Oh, you understand well enough!" he said, contemptuously. "I hear gossip as well as you do. Miss Clyde wants to marry Lovel, and cannot do so till Milly is out of the way. In the interest of your friend, you wish Milly to marry Herne, and so will not tell him of this--flirtation."