"And Miss Drelincourt, his half sister, what has become of her?" "Her chest is said to be delicate, and she and the person who has charge of her have gone to live for a time in Devonshire. She's a charming girl--leaving her mental affliction out of question--and my poor sister was greatly attached to her." "And an uncommonly pretty girl, too," added Master Tom _sotto voce_. CHAPTER VI. RECREANT LOVER. Mrs. Drelincourt had been dead a year. Anna and Mrs. Jenwyn were still at Combe Fenton, the Devonshire village to which they had retired shortly after the death of the mistress of Wyvern Towers. On the particular morning to which we have now come, Anna set off for her customary after breakfast constitutional on the sands. It was her favorite walk, and one which she rarely missed in fine weather. She was accompanied by Fanny, a demure looking but rather pretty girl, and a native of Combe Fenton, who filled the post of maid and attendant to both the younger and the elder lady. About a fortnight before this, Mrs. Jenwyn, while gathering ferns, had slipped and sprained her ankle so severely that she had not yet been able to use it for longer than a few minutes at a time for walking purposes. As a consequence, she had been under the necessity of substituting Fanny for herself as Anna's companion during the latter's outdoor rambles. In so doing no faintest suspicion entered her mind that she might be exposing her charge to a risk. This morning, however, her eyes were destined to be opened. After Anna's departure the housemaid wheeled her in her bath chair to a favorite spot in the grounds under a spreading beech, where she was in the habit of reading and working the time away till the girl's return. Here she had been some time engaged with her tatting, when she was startled by the appearance of a man who came suddenly from behind a thick clump of laurels and rhodendrons, and halting a few yards from her, took off his soft felt hat and made her a low bow. He was young, and looked what he was, a superior mechanic. Before Mrs. Jenwyn could find her tongue he spoke. "I crave your pardon, ma'am, for intruding upon you in this way," he began, "but I couldn't very well call upon you at the house, because the servants there all know me. And now, ma'am, I must ask you to excuse me if I put a certain question to you. Are you aware that the young lady who lives here with you is in the habit, morning after morning, of meeting a young gentleman on the sands of Carthew Bay?" For a few seconds Mrs. Jenwyn could not speak, so utterly astounded was she. Then she said, a little faintly, "No, I am certainly not aware of anything of the kind."