"No, my son," said Mrs Hallett piteously; "and if you had taken my advice the poor child would not have been degraded to such menial tasks." "Mother," said Hallett, with more sternness than I had yet heard him use in speaking to her, "it is not the mere going out shopping that is likely to degrade your child. The time has come when I must insist upon knowing the meaning of these frequent absences on Linny's part. Has she gone out to-night on some necessary errand?" "I--I don't know, Stephen; she said she must go." "Tell me, mother--I beg, I insist," he exclaimed, "what you are keeping from me." "Nothing, nothing, Stephen," sobbed the poor woman. "You'll kill me with your un kindness before you've done." "Do you mean to tell me that you do not know where Linny has gone, mother?" "Yes, yes, Stephen; I do not know." "Has--has she gone to meet anyone?" "I don't know, Stephen; I think so." "Who is it, mother?" exclaimed Hallett. "I don't know, Stephen; indeed I don't know. Oh, this is very, very cruel of you!" "Mother," said Hallett, "is this just and kind to me, to keep such a secret from my knowledge? Oh, shame, shame! You let that weak, foolish child keep appointments with a stranger, and without my knowledge-- without my knowing it, who stand to her in the place of a father. It must be stopped at once." "Let me go, Hallett, please," I whispered. "Yes; go, Antony; it is better that you should not be here when Linny comes back. Good-night--good-night." I hurried downstairs, and let myself out, feeling miserable with the trouble I had seen, and I was just crossing Queen Square when I saw Linny coming in the opposite direction. She caught sight of me on the instant and spoke. "Where did you leave Stephen?" she said hastily; and I saw that she was flushed and panting with haste. "With Mrs Hallett," I said. "Was he scolding because I was out?" "Yes." She gave her head a hasty toss and turned away, looking prettier than ever, I thought, but I fancied, as we stood beneath a lamp, that she turned pale. Before she had gone half-a-dozen steps I was by her side. "Well? What is it?" she said; and now I saw that she was in tears. "Nothing," I replied; "only that I am going to see you safe home." "You foolish boy," she retorted. "As if I could not take care of myself." "Your brother does not like you to be out alone at night," I said quietly; "and I shall walk with you to the door." "Such nonsense, Antony! Ah, well, just as you like;" and she burst into a mocking laugh. I knew this was to hide from me the fact that she was in tears; and I walked beside her in silence till we had nearly reached the door, when we both started, for a dark figure suddenly came up to us. "Oh, Steve, how you frightened me!" exclaimed Linny with a forced laugh. "Did I?" he said calmly; and then he held out his hand to me and pressed mine.