Emily's impulse was to avoid the drawing-master for the secondtime. The moment afterward, a kinder feeling prevailed. Thefarewell interview with Cecilia had left influences which pleadedfor Alban Morris. It was the day of parting good wishes andgeneral separations: he had only perhaps come to say good-by. Sheadvanced to offer her hand, when he stopped her by pointing toSir Jervis Redwood's card.

"May I say a word, Miss Emily, about that woman?" he asked

"Do you mean Mrs. Rook?"

"Yes. You know, of course, why she comes here?"

"She comes here by appointment, to take me to Sir JervisRedwood's house. Are you acquainted with her?"

"She is a perfect stranger to me. I met her by accident on herway here. If Mrs. Rook had been content with asking me to directher to the school, I should not be troubling you at this moment.But she forced her conversation on me. And she said somethingwhich I think you ought to know. Have you heard of Sir JervisRedwood's housekeeper before to-day?"

"I have only heard what my friend--Miss Cecilia Wyvil--has toldme."

"Did Miss Cecilia tell you that Mrs. Rook was acquainted withyour father or with any members of your family?"

"Certainly not!"

Alban reflected. "It was natural enough," he resumed, "that Mrs.Rook should feel some curiosity about You. What reason had shefor putting a question to me about your father--and putting it ina very strange manner?"

Emily's interest was instantly excited. She led the way back tothe seats in the shade. "Tell me, Mr. Morris, exactly what thewoman said." As she spoke,she signed to him to be seated.

Alban observed the natural grace of her action when she set himthe example of taking a chair, and the little heightening of hercolor caused by anxiety to hear what he had still to tell her.Forgetting the restraint that he had hitherto imposed on himself,he enjoyed the luxury of silently admiring her. Her mannerbetrayed none of the conscious confusion which would have shownitself, if her heart had been secretly inclined toward him. Shesaw the man looking at her. In simple perplexity she looked atthe man.

"Are you hesitating on my account?" she asked. "Did Mrs. Rook saysomething of my father which I mustn't hear?"

"No, no! nothing of the sort!"

"You seem to be confused."

Her innocent indifference tried his patience sorely. His memorywent back to the past time--recalled the ill-placed passion ofhis youth, and the cruel injury inflicted on him--his pride wasroused. Was he making himself ridiculous? The vehement throbbingof his heart almost suffocated him. And there she sat, wonderingat his odd behavior. "Even this girl is as cold-blooded as therest of her sex!" That angry thought gave him back hisself-control. He made his excuses with the easy politeness of aman of the world.

"I beg your pardon, Miss Emily; I was considering how to put whatI have to say in the fewest and plainest words. Let me try if Ican do it. If Mrs. Rook had merely asked me whether your fatherand mother were living, I should have attributed the question tothe commonplace curiosity of a gossiping woman, and have thoughtno more of it. What she actually did say was this: 'Perhaps youcan tell me if Miss Emily's father--' There she checked herself,and suddenly altered the question in this way: 'If Miss Emily's_parents_ are living?' I may be making mountains out ofmolehills; but I thought at the time (and think still) that shehad some special interest in inquiring after your father, and,not wishing me to notice it for reasons of her own, changed theform of the question so as to include your mother. Does thisstrike you as a far-fetched conclusion?"

"Whatever it may be," Emily said, "it is my conclusion, too. Howdid you answer her?"

"Quite easily. I could give her no information--and I said so."

"Let me offer you the information, Mr. Morris, before we sayanything more. I have lost both my parents."

Alban's momentary outbreak of irritability was at an end. He wasearnest and yet gentle, again; he forgave her for notunderstanding how dear and how delightful to him she was. "Willit distress you," he said, "if I ask how long it is since yourfather died?"

"Nearly four years," she replied. "He was the most generous ofmen; Mrs. Rook's interest in him may surely have been a gratefulinterest. He may have been kind to her in past years--and she mayremember him thankfully. Don't you think so?"

Alban was unable to agree with her. "If Mrs. Rook's interest inyour father was the harmless interest that you have suggested,"he said, "why should she have checked herself in thatunaccountable manner, when she first asked me if he was living?The more I think of it now, the less sure I feel that she knowsanything at all of your family history. It may help me to decide,if you will tell me at what time the death of your mother tookplace."

"So long ago," Emily replied, "that I can't even remember herdeath. I was an infant at the time."

"And yet Mrs. Rook asked me if your 'parents' were living! One oftwo things," Alban concluded. "Either there is some mystery inthis matter, which we cannot hope to penetrate at present--orMrs. Rook may have been speaking at random; on the chance ofdiscovering whether you are related to some 'Mr. Brown' whom sheonce knew."

"Besides," Emily added, "it's only fair to remember what a commonfamily name mine is, and how easily people may make mistakes. Ishould like to know if my dear lost father was really in her mindwhen she spoke to you. Do you think I could find it out?"

"If Mrs. Rook has any reasons for concealment, I believe youwould have no chance of finding it out--unless, indeed, you couldtake her by surprise."

"In what way, Mr. Morris?"

"Only one way occurs to me just now," he said. "Do you happen tohave a miniature or a photograph of your father?"

Emily held out a handsome locket, with a monogram in diamonds,attached to her watch chain. "I have his photograph here," sherejoined; "given to me by my dear old aunt, in the days of herprosperity. Shall I show it to Mrs. Rook?"

"Yes--if she happens, by good luck, to offer you an opportunity."

Impatient to try the experiment, Emily rose as he spoke. "Imustn't keep Mrs. Rook waiting," she said.

Alban stopped her, on the point of leaving him. The confusion andhesitation which she had already noticed began to show themselvesin his manner once more.

"Miss Emily, may I ask you a favor before you go? I am only oneof the masters employed in the school; but I don't think--let mesay, I hope I am not guilty of presumption--if I offer to be ofsome small service to one of my pupils--"

There his embarrassment mastered him. He despised himself notonly for yielding to his own weakness, but for faltering like afool in the expression of a simple request. The next words diedaway on his lips.

This time, Emily understood him.

The subtle penetration which had long since led her to thediscovery of his secret--overpowered, thus far, by the absorbinginterest of the moment--now recovered its activity. In aninstant, she remembered that Alban's motive for cautioning her,in her coming intercourse with Mrs. Rook, was not the merelyfriendly motive which might have actuated him, in the case of oneof the other girls. At the same time, her quickness ofapprehension warned her not to risk encouraging this persistentlover, by betraying any embarrassment on her side. He wasevidently anxious to be present (in her interests) at theinterview with Mrs. Rook. Why not? Could he reproach her withraising false hope, if she accepted his services, undercircumstances of doubt and difficulty which he had himself beenthe first to point out? He could do nothing of the sort. Withoutwaiting until he had recovered himself, she answered him (to allappearances) as composedly as if he had spoken to her in theplainest terms.

"After all that you have told me," she said, "I shall indeed feelobliged if you will be present when I see Mrs. Rook."

The eager brightening of his eyes, the flush of happiness thatmade him look young on a sudden, were signs not to be mistaken.The sooner they were in the presence of a third person (Emilyprivately concluded) the better it might be for both of them. Sheled the way rapidly to the house.