"In her own room, no doubt, writing letters. I hope she is there still. So you have got back, Robert," Mrs. Chester added, turning to her brother. "Safe and sound," was Mr. Lake's response, as he stood surveying the table and the work going on. "What are you so busy over, all of you?" Mrs. Chester, bending her eyes and fingers on a complicated join, inserted from consideration of economy, did not take the trouble to answer. Mr. Lake went round to his wife. "How are you by this time, Clary?" he lightly said; as, standing between her and the table, he bent down to the low chair where she sat, and kissed her forehead. It was a cold kiss; a careless matter-of-fact sort of kiss à la matrimony. She made no response in words, or else; but the hot crimson dyed her cheeks, as she contrasted it with a certain other kiss bestowed by him on somebody else not long before; _that_ was passionate enough; rather too much so. Had he noticed, he might have seen his wife press her hand sharply upon her bosom; as if she might be trying to hide its tumultuous throbbing. "And how does the house get on, Robert?" asked Mrs. Chester, lifting her head to speak. "Slower than ever. You'll have us here until Christmas, Penelope, according to the present lookout." "I hope I shall; although Clara"--turning towards her--"does seem in a fidget to get back." Clara seemed in a fidget about nothing, just then; she was sitting perfectly still, her face and her eyes cast down. Robert Lake ran on, in his own fashion, turning his attention upon the dressmaker now. "Working for your life as usual, Miss Cooper! What is that you are cutting out? A pair of pantaloons for me?" "It's a pair of sleeves, sir." "Oh, sleeves; I feared they'd hardly be large enough. By the way, when is that inquest to be brought to an end?" "I wish I knew, sir," she answered. "And nothing has been decided in regard to your brother yet!" "No, sir. It is very hard." "It is very strange," returned Mr. Lake--"strange there should be this contradiction about the lights. Each side is so positive." "I am quite certain, sir, that Matthew would not say what was untrue, even to save himself; therefore, when he says it was the green light up, I know it was the green." "Precisely the same thing that I tell everybody. I have unlimited faith in Cooper." "And there's Colonel West to bear out what he says, you know, sir. The colonel would not say the green light was up, if it was not."