She had saved herself, and, as the days dragged by, her first terror of discovery gave place to a conviction of safety. Not the least suspicion had pointed her out as the wretch she was. The children still remained devoted to her, Mrs. Fitzgerald was kind, Miss Carroll courteous, the servants respectful. She began to breathe freely again, saying, to herself: "Why should I fret? Of course Standish has married the girl, and she ought to be glad to get such a handsome husband!" She could not banish a little bitter jealousy of Geraldine, for once she had hoped to marry Standish herself, and the old passion still ached in her heart, though she had fled from him in horror when she learned that he had a living wife. Now that two weeks had passed, she supposed they were married and happy, and some day there might be a reconciliation between the mother and daughter and the son-in-law who had so cleverly stolen his bride. Standish had promised that no matter what happened, his confederate's agency in the affair should never be known. But she would not have begun to feel so confident of her position if she could have heard what the detective, Norris, was saying that day to Hawthorne. "That governess helped him, as sure as you're born, Mr. Daly." Hawthorne said, hurriedly: "You may call me by another name henceforward--that of Hawthorne. I confess that Daly was an assumed one. And now, about this governess?" "Yes, there's no time to lose, Mr. Hawthorne, in beating about the bush. That poor girl has been missing for two weeks, and God only knows what has come to her ere now. We must see this Erroll woman at once, and surprise her into confession by taxing her with the crime." "A clever idea. Let us confront her at once," cried Hawthorne, with burning impatience. "I'm with you to the death!" laughed the jovial little detective, springing to his feet, and within the hour they arrived at the mansion, and sent their cards to Miss Errol. They had chosen Cissy Carroll to bear them, and the governess looked at her, pale with affright. "I do not know these men, Hawthorne and Norris. I cannot see them," she declared at first. But Cissy was firm. "You must go down. They said their business was important, and they would not leave without seeing you," she said. "I dare not see them! I am afraid!" faltered the guilty woman. "Why should you be afraid? Have you done anything wrong?" demanded Cissy, sternly, for a terrible suspicion was troubling her mind. The woman shot her a keen glance, and asked: "Have you betrayed me?" "No." "Then I will see them, but they must have made a mistake. I am not the person they want." Putting on an expression of bravado, she followed Cissy to the presence of the two men, who both rose and bowed profoundly, though they read the signs of guilt in her ghastly face. Then the detective said: "Miss Erroll, will you kindly favor us with the address of your lover, Mr. Clifford Standish?" CHAPTER LVI.