Fanks assured Mrs. Prisom that he would be as reticent as possible about her forthcoming history, and would not use it unless compelled to do so. Satisfied on this point, Mrs. Prisom commenced; at the same moment Fanks took out his note-book to set down any important point. "The other person who was tattooed," said Mrs. Prisom, "was Madaline Garry." Fanks whistled softly and made a note in his book. "Only a thought which struck me," he explained. "Madaline Garry; was she also tattooed with a cross?" "Yes, sir. Madaline and Jane Garry were the daughters of old Captain Garry, a retired naval officer, who lived in Damington. I knew them both very well, as we used to meet on terms of equality in parish work. Jane was the quiet one, but Madaline was a flighty girl, fond of admiration and dress. She attracted the attention of Sir Francis, and it was thought at one time that he would marry her. However, he did not do so, but brought home the lady from Shropshire to Mere Hall. Still, Madaline must have been fond of him, for she let him tattoo on her arm a cross similar to this one of mine, I saw it one day while she was changing her dress, and remarked it. She said Sir Francis had pricked it on her arm as a sign that she was engaged to him, and that it was like a wedding ring. I warned her against Sir Francis, and mentioned the lady of Shropshire to whom he was said to be paying his addresses. She laughed at this, and said Sir Francis would marry her. 'If he doesn't,' she added, 'I shall know how to avenge myself.'" "Did she know that you had a cross on your arm also?" "Oh, yes, I told her; but I never expected to marry Sir Francis, and he did me no harm. I can't say the same of Madaline. He acted badly towards her. I don't say that Sir Francis was a good man," added Mrs. Prisom, in a hesitating manner; "but he was good to me. He certainly should have married Madaline Garry." "Did he go about tattooing all the girls he was in love with?" "He was not in love with me," rejoined Mrs. Prisom, with dignity, "and I only let him tattoo me because I was a schoolgirl and his old playfellow. I knew no better then; but Madaline was a grown woman when he loved her, and marked her with the cross. I suppose it was to bind her to him;--not that it did much good, for shortly afterwards he married Miss Darmer, and in a rage at his desertion Madaline took up with an old admirer--Luke Fielding was his name--and she married him almost on the same day that Sir Francis led his bride to the Hall." "Did she ever forgive him?" "She said she did," replied Mrs. Prisom, with hesitation; "but I have my doubts of that. At all events, she was stopping at the Hall within the year of her marriage." "How was that?"