But when the party broke up, Gerald managed to get close to Miriam, and to whisper something in her ear. "I knew your face was familiar to me," he said. "It was at the 'Frivolity' I saw you. But fear nothing from me. I will keep your secret!" CHAPTER VII. IN THE WOODS. Having thus ignominiously failed in her attempt to bring about Miriam's downfall, Mrs. Darrow judged it wise, for the time being at least, to desist from further attempts in the same direction--in fact, she left her governess severely alone. She realised that her abortive experiment had resulted not only in failure of her object, but that it had utterly destroyed her chance of obtaining from Uncle Barton that little cheque which was looming up so distinctly and pleasantly on her mental horizon when she conceived her little plan for the undoing of Miriam Crane. And, worse still, she realised that Uncle Barton now knew the reason for her proposed hospitality. Nor was he long in taxing her with it, and administering in a series of expressive periods verbal chastisement as severe as any Mrs. Darrow had had to swallow from him for long past. In vain she tried to excuse herself. "It was all in the interest of the dear child," she protested plaintively. "Surely you would not have Dicky entrusted to the care of a common music-hall singer?--it is so horribly low and vulgar, not to say worse." "Miss Crane is no music-hall singer. What she told you is perfectly true, for I know her brother well--indeed, it was through him I heard of her. He is a young ne'er-do-well, and happens to be in the employ of my own solicitor. Hearing that his sister was seeking employment as a governess through the agency of an institute in Kensington, I went there, saw her, and engaged her. I think the wisdom of my choice is evident." "Oh yes; so far as teaching goes she certainly does very well. But so she should, seeing she is well paid for it--far too well paid in my opinion." "But this happens to be one of the many points upon which your opinion is not of vital importance, Julia. I pay the lady what I consider is due to her for her services. The fact of the matter is, you cordially dislike Miss Crane." "No, that is not true," replied Mrs. Darrow. "All I say is that there is something queer about her--very queer. For one thing she dresses absurdly above her position." "Does she? It seems to me she dresses very plainly." "Oh yes, to your eye, no doubt. But you must excuse me if in your own words I reply that the 'cut' of a lady's dress is not one of the points upon which _your_ opinion is of vital importance. You may take it from me that her dresses, 'plain' as you think them, come from a first-class dressmaker, and cost a large sum of money. What I want to know is, how did she pay for them?" Now this of course Barton knew very well, seeing that he himself had written the cheque for them. All he said was,