true that pulses beat in her ears, and her heart mounted to her throat, but she sat still as a statue, and went on with her knitting. “One may not be able to help being foolish, but one can always help showing it,” she said to herself. The sight of Geoff when he appeared, fresh and blooming, made all the throbbings subside at once. She even made a fine effort to laugh. “What does this mean, Geoff? I never knew you so late. The servants have been trying to frighten me, and I hear Mr. Tritton has got a very bad cold,” she said, getting the words out hurriedly, afraid lest she might break down or betray herself. She eyed him very curiously over her knitting, but she made believe not to be looking at him at all. “Yes; poor old Tritton,” he said; “it is my fault; he sat up for me. I went out----” he made a little pause; for Geoff reflected that other people’s secrets were not his to confide, even to his mother--“with wild Bampfylde, who came, I suppose, out of gratitude for what little I did for him.” “You went out--with that poacher fellow, Geoff?” “Yes:” he nodded, meeting her horrified eyes quite calmly and with a smile; “why not, mother? You did not think I should be afraid of him, I hope?” “Oh how very imprudent, Geoff! You, whose life is of so much value!--who are so very important to me and everybody!” “Most fellows are important who have mothers to make a fuss,” he said, smiling. “I don’t think there is much more in me than the rest. But he has not harmed me much, you can see. I have all my limbs as usual; I am none the worse.” “Thank God for that!” said Lady Stanton; “but you must not do the like again. Indeed, indeed, Geoff, you are too bold; you must not put yourself in the way of trouble. Think of your poor brother. Oh, my dear, what an example! You must not be so rash again.” “I will not be rash--in that way,” he said. “But, mother, I want you to tell me something. You remember all about it: did you ever know of any more Bampfyldes? There was the mother, and this fellow. Did you ever know of any other?” “You are missing out the chief one, Geoff--Lily, the girl.” “Yes, yes; I know about her. I did not mean the girl. But think! Were those three all? Were there more--another----?” Lady Stanton shook her head. “I do not remember any other. I think three were quite enough. There is mischief in one even, of that kind.” “What do you mean by that kind? You did not know them. I hope my mother is not one of the kind who, not knowing people, are unjust to them.”