"I am sorry that this should have happened," said Lady Dartelle. "Knowing you to be a person of refinement and education, I cannot believe you to be guilty of an intrigue with a servant--that I am sure is not the case. I can only imagine that you have some underhand correspondence with a gentleman whom I have hitherto highly respected--with Lord Chandon." "I have not. Oh, believe me, Lady Dartelle, indeed I have not! He has never seen me--at least, I mean--O Heaven help me!" "You see," said Veronica to Lady Dartelle, "that confusion means guilt." Miss Dartelle turned to the trembling, pallid girl. "Do you mean to tell us," she asked, "that you do not know Lord Chandon?" "I--I mean," murmured the white lips, and then Hyacinth buried her face in her hands and said no more. "I think, mamma," said Miss Dartelle, "that you have proof sufficient." "I am very sorry that you have forgotten yourself, Miss Holte," said her ladyship, gravely. "I shall consider it my duty to speak to his lordship in the morning; and you must prepare to leave Hulme Abbey at once." The girl raised her white face with a look of despair which Lady Dartelle never forgot. "May I ask your ladyship," she said, faintly, "not to mention my name to--to the gentleman, and to let me go away in the morning?" This was the most unfortunate question that, for her own sake, she could have asked--it only confirmed Lady Dartelle's opinion of her guilt and aroused her curiosity. "I shall most certainly speak to Lord Chandon; it is only due to him that he should have the opportunity of freeing himself from what is really a most disgraceful charge." Hyacinth wrung her hands with a gesture of despair, which was not lost upon the two ladies. "You can retire to your room," said Lady Dartelle, coolly; "we will arrange to-morrow about the time of your going." As the unhappy girl closed the door, Veronica turned to her mother with an air of triumph. "That girl is an adventuress--there is something wrong about her. You will act very wisely to let her go." At a violent blast of the tempest without Veronica paused in her remarks about Miss Holte, and exclaimed, "What a terrible storm, mamma! Do you hear the rain?" "Yes," replied Lady Dartelle; "they who are safe and warm at home may thank Heaven for it." The young governess went to her room and stood there a picture of despair. What was she to do? Gustave, in the little note that he had brought, told her he had decided to obey her and say nothing; so that she had begun to feel a sense of security again. The present discovery was more dreadful than anything she had ever imagined, more terrible than anything else that could have happened. What would Adrian say or think? Oh, she must go--go before this crowning shame and disgrace came! In the morning Lord Chandon would be asked about her, and would, of course, deny all knowledge of her. She would probably be forced to see him then--dear Heaven, what misery!